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. 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 2010 are:
- St Lucy’s School, Wahroonga
- St Edmund’s School, Wahroonga
- Chromehurst School, Lindfield
- Karonga School, Epping
- Clarke Road School, Hornsby
- Pennant Hills High School
- Ryde Secondary College
- Chatswood High School
- Warrawee Public School
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 Cathy, Ivy and Corinne. The coaches are helped each week by a dedicated band of volunteers. Thank you to Fiona, Nalyn, Lucy, Shani, Jeanette, Barbara, Jan, Michelle, Julia, Sam and Amber.
If you are interested in volunteering at one of our schools please contact Deb Frost on 0424 403 06.
Come and Try Day
“Come and Try” days are held each year 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 2009 carnival was opened by athlete, volunteer and Special Olympics Ambassador Lucy Dumitrescu. 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. Winning schools to date have been:
2006 - Cromehurst School
2007 - Clarke Road
2008 - Chatswood High school
2009 - Warrawee Public School
