On June 7th, Somerville held its annual Special Olympics School Day Games, hosted by the Somerville Public Schools' Special Education Department and the Health and Physical Education Department. Around 140 student athletes, led by a motorcycle, paraded around Trum Field holding brightly-colored banners for their schools before Opening Ceremonies commenced.
Steve Simolaris, Director of Health and Physical Education, read the Special Olympics Coach’s Oath. Yahaira Aguilon Maldonado, a student volunteer from the class of 2019, read the Special Olympics Athlete’s Oath. Christine Trevisone, Director of Special Education, officially opened the games.
Athletes, who ranged from grades K-12, broke off into groups and went to stations of events, each organized and supervised by volunteers from the Winter Hill Best Buddies and SHS Career and Technical Education Health Careers program. These stations hosted relays, t-ball, soccer, and more.
The students were smiling and laughing as they rotated through the different events. Some jumped up and down for each other when they landed a bean bag in a basket, and others held hands with a friend while running relays. All of them appeared to be having a great time. They embodied the Special Olympics athlete oath, as read by Maldonado: Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.
We would like to give a special thanks to our sponsors Special Olympics of MA, Pini's Pizzeria of Somerville, and Quality Graphics as well as to our volunteers.
Katherine Fielding, 2018 Tisch Fellow