The Special Olympics at Shorecrest
Source/Author: Nancy L. Spencer, Head of School
September 23, 2022
Last year, with the assistance of a Shorecrest parent, I reached out to Special Olympics Florida to see if they would be interested in Shorecrest hosting a Special Olympics event on our campus. I had worked with Special Olympics at previous schools and seen how volunteering for Special Olympics offers students a chance to develop leadership skills and build relationships with people of varying backgrounds. Volunteers create common bonds with Special Olympic athletes around the joy and inspiration they get from their experiences.
Special Olympics Florida accepted our invitation and the Hillsborough and Pinellas County Fall Classic Event, featuring softball, football, football skills, and powerlifting, will be held at Shorecrest tomorrow, on Saturday, September 24, from 9am-4pm.
The mission of Special Olympics Florida is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Sports events such as the Fall Classic bring together a large and inclusive community of athletes, supporters and families, coaches, volunteers and many others. The athletes are at the center of it all. These events help us all rediscover the purity of sports - and real athletic pursuits - based on true Olympic ideals.
Shorecrest students have done a spectacular job of stepping up and getting involved in the event.
The Fall Classic requires many volunteers who connect directly with supporting the athletes. Other volunteers create an “Olympic Village” where athletes and their families can play carnival games and enjoy activities. The Upper School Student Council has taken the lead in organizing both Middle and Upper School students to get involved. In one week, the Upper School gained over 100 students who signed up to volunteer; our initial goal was 60 students. The planning, engagement, and excitement surrounding the Special Olympics showcases our core values
The Upper School Student Council worked hard to communicate the importance of getting involved through social media and at Monday Morning Meetings. They presented the event to the Middle School student body at their morning meeting. The Middle School Student Council developed plans to run a number of booths, which will include themed games and activities. Club leaders have taken on the challenge of organizing booths for the Olympic Village. So far, we have booth ideas that include activities such as glitter tattoos, mini-yoga sessions, a photo booth, construct robots, ring toss, and painting kindness rocks.
With the help of SCA, parents are also getting involved in volunteering! Many Shorecrest families will be participating together, either cheering on the Special Olympics athletes or filling vital roles to help the event run smoothly.
The ultimate objective of Special Olympics Florida is to help people with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public's awareness of their capabilities and needs.
I am always struck by the Special Olympic athlete oath, which is “Let me win. If I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” Although differentiated by abilities and culture, I firmly believe that this oath is applicable to all members of the Shorecrest community, in whatever endeavor we find ourselves.
I hope to see many of you tomorrow at the Special Olympics Hillsborough and Pinellas County Fall Classic Event!
All the best,
Nancy
