SOSUNS Schools’ Program
One of the goals in 2005 was …”to reach out into the community and explore opportunities to develop partnerships with schools in our area supporting children with an intellectual disability…”
This was achieved in 2006 when our region hired the services of Belle Wheaton to become the Manager of Schools and Community Development.
The Special Olympics Upper North Shore Motor Skills Sports Program started at the beginning of School Term 1, 2006 with a progression of schools throughout the year.
In 2007 we welcomed a new school to the program, Clarke Road and a new manager of schools, Elissa Henshaw. Deb Frost came on board in 2008 and the program continued to expand.
The schools that are involved in this program in 2011 are:
- St Lucy’s School, Wahroonga
- St Edmund’s School, Wahroonga
- Chromehurst School, Lindfield
- Karonga School, Epping
- Clarke Road School, Hornsby
- Gibbons Street
- Ryde Secondary College
- Chatswood High School
- Warrawee Public School
- Macquarie University Special Education Centre
The Program is run on a weekly basis with a total of approximately 350 students participating over the course of the year. A variety of different sports are played aiming to increase gross and fine motor skills as well as getting students active.
Activities include basketball, t-ball, soccer and cricket, ball skills, games, station activities, dancing, locomotor activities, parachutes and more.
This program could not run without our coaches Ivy, Shane and Corinne. The coaches are helped each week by a dedicated band of volunteers. Thank you to Nalyn, Lucy, Michael, Tom, Jack, Shani, Jeanette, Jan, Julia and Chris.
If you are interested in volunteering at one of our schools please contact Deb Frost on 0424 403 065.
Come and Try Day
“Come and Try” days are held each year often at one of the above schools. The sports to try are usually basketball, t-ball, cricket, tennis and soccer. The purpose of “Come and Try” days are to introduce new families and athletes to Special Olympic sports.
Interschools Sports Competition
An Interschool Sports Competition is held each year at Abbotsleigh School, in Wahroonga.
Throughout Term 3 and 4, a group of Year 10 Abbotsleigh girls help our region prepare for this carnival as part of the girl’s Applied Learning Experience (ALE) project.
The girls do a fantastic job helping to organise this great event.
All the schools involved in the school program come along and participate in a number of different sports on the day.
The 2011 carnival was opened by athlete, volunteer and Special Olympics Ambassador Michael Karseboom. After an athlete marchpast, reading of the oath and standing for the Australian National Anthem the athletes were ready for a day of great sport and competition.
Approximately 250 athletes representing twelve schools, 100 volunteers and 55 teachers and aides joined together for a great day of competition in sports including soccer, t-ball. cricket, newcombe ball, target games, athletics and tenpin bowling.
The winner school of the 2011 carnival was Pennant Hills High School.
Winning schools to date have been:
2006 - Cromehurst School
2007 - Clarke Road
2008 - Chatswood High school
2009 - Warrawee Public School
2010 - MUSEC/St Edmund’s
2011 - Pennant Hills High School
