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Hazelwood East & West High Schools Host
Special Olympics Track & Field Events
Students from Hazelwood West and East High schools were able to help bring smiles to the faces of competitors when the two schools hosted recent Special Olympics track and field events.
At West High School, there were opening ceremony introductions and a lighting of the Olympic torch before the activities were moved to the high school gymnasiums due to rain.
Despite the rain, the competitors went against one another in a variety of events including the long jump, relay races and the javelin throw. In addition to the athletic events, the gymnasium was the site of the Victory Village which housed a DJ playing music, dancing, food and beverages, and games.
The events attracted 160 athletes from 10 different schools, including Hazelwood East High, Riverview, Pattonville, and Marquette high schools. Competitors also came from several Vocational Skills Programs (VSP) including VSP Missouri Veteran Home, VSP Garden Villas North and VSP Lambert Airport. The VSP is a job training program for Special School District (SSD) students ages 18-22. All athletes received a ribbon for their efforts.
“This is a great event and we’re proud to be the host again this year,” said Dennis Newell, West High School principal. “Our students – as competitors or volunteers — love being a part of the Special Olympics.”
On the following Friday, the plan at Hazelwood East High was to take all activities indoors, as rain was in the forecast for the second week in a row. Athletes and volunteers still had a great time and competitors enjoyed taking part in the races and other activities available in the gymnasium.
“Our students look forward to meeting the athletes and helping with such a great organization,” said Dr. Darrell Strong, interim principal at East High School.
To assist the athletes and help with the event, more than 400 students and staff volunteered.
Heather Berry, a Special School District teacher at West High, says the Special Olympics has benefits for both competitors and volunteers.
“The athletes earn a sense of pride and confidence by participating,” Berry said. “The volunteers build bonds and it helps open their hearts and mind to a new experience. Many of the students say it’s one of their favorite days of the school year.”
An athlete with the Special Olympics games at Hazelwood West High School takes the final leg of the Olympic torch run during the recent track & field events.
