Wash High hosts day of friendly competition
Steve Wood of Belle Vernon High School gets wrapped with toilet paper by volunteer Nikki Hoffman during the “Holiday Minute to Win It” challenge Wednesday at the Wash High gymnasium.
David Ellis of Washington High School tosses a ball through a holiday hula hoop and into a bucket during the “Holiday Minute to Win It” challenge Wednesday.
Hannah Fox of Montour High School creates a tree pyramid out of cups during the “Holiday Minute to Win It” challenge Wednesday.
April Carroll of Washington High School hangs ornaments on a yardstick during the “Holiday Minute to Win It” challenge.
Dariuss Phillips of Washington High School wraps classmate Phaelah Gonzalez with toilet paper during the “Holiday Minute to Win It” challenge Wednesday at the Wash High gymnasium.
Washington High School’s gym rumbled with applause and holiday anthems Wednesday as the school district hosted eight area schools in a friendly competition.
The “Holiday Minute to Win It” challenge pitted 82 student-athletes from Washington, Canon-McMillan, Carlynton, South Fayette, Belle Vernon, Montour, Elizabeth Forward and Avonworth against each other in various challenges – from throwing “snowballs” through holiday hula hoops to guiding ornaments across the finish line and delivering wreaths from their heads to a cone.
The event fulfilled a mission of STARS, or Schools Together with Athletes Reaching Success, by providing meaningful activities for students with and without physical and intellectual disabilities.
Student volunteers, called the Prexie Pals, band members and cheerleaders welcomed participants and helped at each of the stations, shouting encouragement and lending a hand when needed. While winning was the name of the game, competitors focused on cheering their fellow athletes.
Washington special education teachers Jamie Frazier, Kellie Ryburn and Teresa Booker and Michelle Kasula-Engle, supervisor of education, organized the event.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for them, not only to get together and share experiences with our students, but also share professional development,” said Washington Superintendent Dr. Roberta P. DiLorenzo. “(Students) love it. It’s a great social and educational event with lot of skill building, interpersonal relationships, working together and teaming. It’s very worthwhile.”
Between competitions, students ate treats from an ice cream truck, danced to holiday tunes and posed for pictures with Santa, the highlight of the event for Wash High student Dariuss Phillips, who also listed a cup race among his favorite games.
For Wash High student Desmond Spinks, the day was all about teamwork.
“We encourage each other and have fun,” he said.
Similar events are held at various schools on a monthly basis, from football games to dances to bowling. Kasula-Engle said a competition earlier this year at Elizabeth Forward left a lasting impression with life-skills students.
“Students love it. They come back (to school) talking about the new friends they made,” she said. “We’re excited to bring everyone together again.”