From Election Day to Thanksgiving, there are plenty of things that come to mind in conjunction with the month of November. However, for the life skills students, November means the start of the Special Olympics, a highly anticipated athletic showcase that started Nov. 2 and spans several months.

“We have been practicing on Fridays for about a month before the first competition. That will give the kids the opportunity to get their skills back up since they haven’t bowled probably since last fall when we started,” life skills teacher Sherria Bracey said.

In addition to the traditional sports such as bowling, basketball, and track and field, the students will be participating in a new sport this year.

“This year in Special Olympics we will participate in bocce ball,” Bracey said. “This will be the first for district and our campus to participate in bocce and kids are excited about bocce.”

The opportunity to compete in the Special Olympics is a valuable experience for those that don’t have the ability to participate in other sports.

“More than likely, a majority of them won’t play for a team sport here at school, but Special Olympics gives them a chance to show off their skills and compete against their peers,” Bracey said. “There’s also the social piece and the social engagement, being out and about and interacting with other peers. More than likely they wouldn’t make the bowling team, so Special Olympics gives them all those avenues to be a team player and participate in a sport.”

While Bracey and her students have been practicing for the games, PALS students will be on hand to help out.

“We come in and support the athletes in whatever way they need, so that can be one on one working with them,” PALS teacher Allison Lyles said. “It can be helping at different stations if the Special Olympics team needs some extra support. Our goal is to encourage, to motivate, and to actually give hands on support if they need it to complete the activity and be successful.”

Special Olympics is special for the students competing, but also to the students that have the opportunity to help out.

“I love helping out with the Special Olympics. Being in PALS, I get to work with the majority of the kids that are competing, so they’re familiar with me, making it even more of a good time,” senior Danielle Brochu said. “Being able to see these kids compete, just like I do in my everyday athletics, makes my heart so happy. At the end of the day they’re regular kids just like you and me; wanting to go out there and do their best, have fun and try and win the medal at the end of the race.”