The Clark community completed its spring Young Athletes session at Brewer Recreation Center on Saturday, May 12, 2018,. Young Athletes is an inclusive sports play program for children ages 2 – 7. It offers children with and without disabilities the opportunity to come together in a guided play experience. The coaching staff, including Stefanie DeVizio, Charlie Mezaros, Katie Shellhammer, and Ashley Tenpenny, led the group throughout the spring in various activities to strengthen motor skills, as well as enhance social, emotional, and learning opportunities.
According to Supervisor of Clark Preschool/School Nurses, Lori Kowalski, “These coaches gave the children continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy.”
A number of Arthur L. Johnson High School students including Lena Acosta, Kayla Bowen, Brooke Gallo, Emma Hilton, Sara Hilton, Gabby Smith, Jenna Thornton, and Juliana Venezio, along with Emylee Lincoln and Holly Zarzecki from Union County, volunteered with the coaches. They helped with the set-up and equipment clean-up for the event and worked one-on-one with the children assisting and navigating them through the various activity stations.
Kowalski continued, “It is the coaches and volunteers who make a difference in the lives of these children, modeling good sportsmanship and character to enhance their overall sports experience while finding their own lives fulfilled in ways they did not imagine!”
(above) Students participating in Special Olympics Young Athletes.
Photo by Clark Public Schools.
