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 Spirits were high, the students were electrified, and the air castle was inflated and ready for bouncing.
On February 24, The Masters School gym was full of wild smiles and raucous laughter as we kicked off the 26th annual Junior Special Olympics games. This exciting event was a chance for 48 athletes—developmentally disabled children from the Hudson Valley and Putnam regions—to break-in their sneakers in preparation for the real Special Olympics games, a worldwide program of athletic competition. It was also a chance for over 150 Masters School student volunteers to connect with a child, and with their own inner child.
Friday night found the heads of each committee and some one-to-one volunteers transforming the gym into a veritable circus with multicolored streamers, flags, and games. On Saturday, we welcomed the 48 athletes and 200 guests, family members, and friends for lunch, “musical munchkins,” the Olympic parade, and finally, the games. It was a joyful day, and after the awards ceremony and the hokey pokey, we were sad to see the athletes go.
The students volunteers, particularly Co-Chairs Brittany French (dressed as a Viking princess) and Andrew Rhodes (in costume as a cowboy), as well as Vice Chairs Matt Lazarus and Lauren Bernstein and Acting Director of Community Service Caity Johnson, worked hard to create a day full of fun and inspiration, which we hope has left a lasting impression on the athletes and their families.
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