Local law enforcement officers escorted torch bearers Leileanna Faitele and Jasmine Reynolds as well as Greenfield-Central schools employee Jim Bevers onto the field for the Special Olympics held at Greenfield-Central High School in 2019. School officials are excited to bring back the Olympics this year after a two-year break due to COVID.
Photo provided
GREENFIELD — Greenfield-Central Schools are spreading the word about hosting two Special Olympics events in mid-May for students with disabilities, in hopes that the public may want to attend.
The Special Olympics/Unified Champion Schools (SO/UCS) program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade will take place at Greenfield-Central High School on May 16. A separate Special Olympics for preschoolers will take place at J.B. Stephens Elementary School on May 18.
Robin LeClaire, director of student services, said the corporation is inviting the public to get involved by attending or volunteering at the event.
“We couldn’t host it last year due to COVID, but the last year we did do one a lot of people were saying they wished they had known about it because they would have liked to have attended or been involved,” she said.
This will be the second time Greenfield-Central has hosted the Special Olympics program, with the first being in 2019.
LeClaire said the special event features an opening ceremony and awards ceremony, just like the worldwide Olympics.
Students from the general education population are also invited to help out with the event that is centered around students with disabilities.
“It’s amazing to watch our kids come together and learn about differences and acceptance,” said Rachel Ross-Kroemer, Greenfield-Central’s assistant director of special education.
“This is a program where students with and without disabilities participate in activities together throughout the year to promote inclusion awareness in their schools and communities … Our schools have been busy planning whole school engagement activities that focus on student leadership and encourages awareness, respect, acceptance and inclusion of those with disabilities,” she said.
Each of the school district’s participating schools lead fundraising events to raise money for Special Olympics Indiana throughout the school year, which culminates with the Unified Sports event — known as Game Days — in May.
Ross-Kroemer said the Mt. Vernon school district is the pioneer of hosting Special Olympics events in Hancock County, but that Greenfield-Central is making strides.
Hosting the Special Olympics is a huge accomplishment for Greenfield-Central schools, she said, which have been working to increase opportunities for kids with disabilities since withdrawing seven years ago from a cooperative that took care of that initiative.
“We’re super proud of the inclusive practices and inclusive culture we have been growing in our district, not just through this program, but through the type of classrooms and programming we’ve offered for kids with disabilities in general,” said Ross-Kroemer.
“We also pair special education teachers with general education teachers as our building leaders, and that’s been a phenomenal change for us because it really always has been about having all of our kids represented here,” she said.
As for the Special Olympics games, “When you see the pure joy on these kids’ faces as they participate in these activities that they’ve practiced for all year, it is so moving,” said Ross-Kroemer, adding that the best part is the feeling of inclusion the participants get by working alongside their peers without disabilities.
“Just the symbol of acceptance that you see during these Game Day events is awesome to see,” she said.
Ross-Kroemer credits the local educators, sponsors and law enforcement officials who make the day possible.
“Officers from the Greenfield and Hancock County departments will meet our busses and escort them to the school then escort the torch holders onto the field. It makes the day even more special to have them there,” she said.
This year’s Game Day for students in kindergarten through eighth grade takes place at the Greenfield-Central High School football field, from 9:15-11:15 a.m. Monday, May 16.
Game Day for preschoolers takes place indoors at J.B. Stephens Elementary School from 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, May 18. Admission is free at both events.
For more information, contact Ross-Kroemer at [email protected] or 317-462-4491, ext. 41203.
