The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Family thanks fire company volunteers
UPPER MERION » When Gretchen Martino and her two teenage daughters sat around their dining room table for Thanksgiving dinner, they had a special reason to be thankful.
Earlier this year, a fire erupted in the attic of their home on Trinity Lane in Upper Merion Township. Thanks to the efforts of Swedeland and a few neighboring fire companies, the fire did not spread beyond the attic. Only recently were repairs completed, which enabled the Martino family to move back into their home.
On a recent Monday evening, Gretchen and her daughters visited the Swedeland Fire Company on A Street to express their appreciation.
“You guys did a great
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120 schools participate in the state Unified Champion Schools programs, and about 5,000 schools in the nation are involved. Currently, Souderton is the only school in Pennsylvania to achieve this national status of excellence.
Matt Aaron, president and CEO of SOPA, said Thursday that Souderton had to meet the threeprong criteria to gain national recognition: to offer Unified programs (Souderton’s sports programs won championships in both bocce and track and field at the state and county levels); provide youth leadership; and have “whole school engagement.”
Each prong, Aaron said, is critical in the success of the program. And, he hopes that Souderton’s national recognition will have a ripple effect throughout the state.
“Someone said it earlier, but we want what is going on here at Souderton, the acceptance and inclusion, to be like the flu virus and infect every school in Pennsylvania. This is a celebration of what this community has accomplished. And Souderton has really set the bar high.”
Standards for a successful pep rally were set high, as well. Souderton teacher Richard Curtis (who gained national recognition by serving as cohost to Kelly Ripa on Live with Kelly) kept the students, guests (particularly Shriver) entertained throughout the event.
Along with Shriver and Aaron, guest speakers included Dr. David Volkman, executive deputy secretary of the PA Department of Education, Souderton principal Dr. Sam Varano and SASD superintendent Dr. Frank Gallagher.
Volkman noted how moved he was by the experience, and how impressed he was the level of acceptance by the Souderton students.
“This is all about inclusion,” he said. “And you’re living it — every day. You embrace and help all individuals. You help others win when no one is looking.”
During his remarks, Varano said, “We’re embracing differences and supporting each other — that’s just what we do. It’s the norm.”
Gallagher, who began his career as a special education teacher, said, “This is the greatest experience in my entire career. I’ll never forget this.”
Prior to the pep rally, Shriver said that the efforts Souderton students and staff have put forth are exactly what Special Olympics wants to project, and spread, throughout the world.
“It’s the largest grassroots movement of ending the fear of difference in the world today,” he said. “You couldn’t have said that even 10 years ago. This school is now amplifying a call to action.
“This is a growing movement, not because we’re helping people with special needs, but because we’re locking their gifts to transform the culture. I guarantee if every school is a Unified Champion School, every school would be a better school.”
Shriver, son of Special Olympics founder the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, also addressed those in attendance at a pre-pep rally reception. It was during this time he spoke of his grandmother Rose Kennedy, and his aunt Rosemary, who was born with intellectual disabilities. Shriver said his grandmother wrote in her diary that she was heartbroken by Dr. David Volkman, executive deputy secretary of the PA Department of Education, addresses the pep rally at Souderton Area High School Thursday, Nov. 30. Souderton principal Dr. Sam Varano speaks during the pep rally at Souderton Area High School Thursday, Nov. 30. Rosemary’s challenges — not because her daughter had a disability, but because the “world around her daughter would be so unforgiving and unwelcoming.
“As I was listening and watching this morning, there’s an alternate word (to heartbroken),” he said. “That if a mom of a newborn (with disabilities) were here today — she would be ‘heart open.’ That her child could live, grow up and attend a school just like this.”