In October, seven Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) schools came together at Stanley Park Senior Public School for a day of sport, connection, and celebration. The event, hosted in partnership with Special Olympics Ontario, welcomed students from Alternative Continuum of Education (ACE) classrooms across the school board to participate in a Sports Festival designed to promote inclusion, physical activity, and fun.
ACE classrooms from Stanley Park, Avenue Road, Sunnyside, Centennial, JW Gerth, Laurelwood, and Hespeler Public Schools rotated through six activity stations. These included an obstacle course, basketball, football toss, soccer, bocce, and tee ball. The festival was a vibrant showcase of student enthusiasm, teamwork, and community spirit.
"It's a day of fun and sport, and it's hard not to want to be part of a movement like this," said Dondre Wright, School Operations & Transition Programs Lead at Special Olympics Ontario.
The event was made possible through the collaboration of educators, volunteers, and Special Olympics Ontario staff, all working together to create a welcoming and empowering space for WRDSB students.
"Events like this are important because students of all abilities get to showcase their talents and try new games. It's about joy, inclusion, and being kids," said Olivia Amorim, ACE teacher at Sunnyside Public School.
For many students, the day was more than just games, it was a chance to connect with peers from other schools, build friendships, and experience the joy of participation.
"It keeps your body strong and gives you energy to play," said Rachel, an ACE student.
"Everyone is kind and passionate. It was so great to make new friends," shared one student.
Student volunteers from Stanley Park played a key role in supporting the event, helping participants navigate stations and cheering them on.
"Volunteering has taught me not to judge a book by its cover," said Alex, a student volunteer. "You should really get to know someone before making assumptions."
"It makes everyone feel like they have a chance, and everyone is helping each other. I think that's really great," added Lucy, another volunteer.
Educators echoed the importance of events like this in fostering inclusion and confidence.
"Our students get to be who they are," said Heather Samuell, ACE teacher at Laurelwood Public School. "Everything is catered to their abilities, and they feel positive about what they accomplish. It's also a reunion. They get to see friends from other schools."
"We were really grateful to host these seven schools," said Jessica Lubert, Physical Education Teacher at Stanley Park. "We hope everyone tried something new, had fun, and built community. We're grateful to the schools, participants, Grade 8 leadership students, and Special Olympics for making this day so special."
Principal Ryan Day summed up the spirit of the day, sharing that "events like this show the power of togetherness. Sports bring us all together, and there's a way for everyone to be involved and participate."
"An important takeaway is that there is the ability for everybody to participate," said Maedith Radlein, Chair of the Board of Trustees. "This is the kind of event that makes students really value themselves and know that they belong to a community."
