Special Olympics PEI Celebrates 10 Years of SO Fun Days
After a busy November, Special Olympics PEI is thrilled to announce another successful year of SO Fun Days! Celebrating 10 years this Fall, SO Fun Days are inclusive sport fairs that offer an introduction to Special Olympics to both students with an intellectual disability and student leaders.
This year Special Olympics PEI hosted 8 SO Fun Days across the Island. Seeing another fantastic response, 52 schools attended, with 481potential Special Olympics athletes introduced to the benefits of Special Olympics programs. As an inclusive event, SO Fun Days also saw participation from 449 student leaders. By bringing these students together we believe that we can positively contribute to a more understanding environment for all students.
SO Fun Day are half day multi-sport festivals. Students with an intellectual disability have the opportunity to try a variety of different Special Olympics sports, including rhythmic gymnastics, athletics, basketball, soccer, bowling, bocce, (floor) curl, and more! Additionally, students, along with their teachers and educational assistants, visit a station to learn about Special Olympics’ youth programs – Active Start and FUNdamentals. It is here that teachers are able to see firsthand how Special Olympics programs can be used directly in schools, complimenting their already good work, to further assist students with an intellectual disability in their schools.
Students also had the opportunity to visit a Health Promotion station. Thanks to a partnership with UPEI Nursing, 4th Year UPEI Nursing Students lead this station, focusing on sun safety and the importance of being physical active and stretching.
A highlight of SO Fun Days for many students is the face that they are student run. Events are hosting directly in schools, spread out to reach each family of schools. Student leaders from the host school have the opportunity to volunteer at the event by running the sport stations. At 3 host schools, Bluefield High, Morell High, and KISH, the Leadership Class was more directly involved in the planning ahead of the event. As a service learning opportunity, these classes participated in a pre-planning session with Special Olympics PEI staff prior to the event, and with a focus on incorporating physical literacy and fundamental movement skills, designed the sport station activities.
Additional student volunteers from The Mount Academy helped to run the sport stations at the 2 Charlottetown based events. These students helped to run the stations, and provided mentorship for the Intermediate students from host schools.
More than an event, following SO Fun Days, Special Olympics has been promoting youth programs offered outside of school. With support from school staff, Special Olympics PEI prepared a survey for parents and caregivers to learn more about the needs and interests of students outside school. Another goal of the survey was the better understand barriers to participation, especially in rural areas.
To learn more about Special Olympics programs or to sign up, contact Sarah Profitt - Wagner at swagner@sopei.com.