Striking out stereotypes
Polson schools engage special needs students with peers
Linda Sappington
Polson student Dothan Stene bowls for Special Olympics.
Linda Sappington
Megan Rost celebr ates a strike.
Linda Sappington
Sarah Konen, John Bakerstreet, Dothan Stene and Hailey Tallmadge bowl together at Sportspage Bowl.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
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Polson schools are working with Special Olympics Montana to become a Unified Champion School, and are one of the first schools to meet the requirements of a pilot project on the Reservation, according to April Charlo, tribal outreach director for Special Olympics Montana on the Flathead Reservation. |
The pilot program that began this school year includes three components: whole school engagement, youth leadership, and unified sports.
“They see everybody else (playing sports). They go to sports assemblies, but are not a part of them,” said Chris Kelly, PHS Special Ed teacher. “Now they are in a sport at the same time, talking about practice, wearing their uniforms on the same days. They feel included.”
The program brings together students of all ages, with and without intellectual disabilities, “breaking down stereotype barriers, and getting along,” said Scott Wilson, Polson High School principal, with the purpose of giving the athletes a state-level, unified sports experience.
Students received participation ribbons during the Dec. 7 event, which was like a “test run” to advance to a state level of competition, according to Wilson.
While Special Olympics bowling has traditionally been held during the summer games, the venues are maxed-out, according to Megan Hill, area Special Olympics coordinator for Western Montana.
“Now we do it in December so the school-age children can practice during the school year, and offer more competition in school times,” Hill explained.
Special needs students can’t practice after school, so they practice during regular school hours, bowling and swimming every Friday afternoon from November through May. In the spring, students participate in track and field practice and bocce ball.
“We might start snowshoeing,” Kelly said. “They can practice on the school grounds and around the track for the Whitefish competition.”
Mikayla Croft, a PHS senior, is paired up with her peer buddy John Bakerstreet. They both take a welding class.
“I love the kids. They are so much fun to work with,” Croft said. “I think, right away, people judge. You don’t know until you work with them. They are no different than anybody else.”
The program is important for that acceptance, according to Mel Butler, Polson Middle School special ed teacher.
“Even if you’re different, you still have fun together,” Butler said. “So many of my kids are seen as ‘special.’ People think ‘you can’t do this.’ We celebrate what they are able to do.”
The leadership program pairs students with peer buddies, and began with one speech in one class about the leadership team at the beginning of the school year. All that was needed was a bit of paperwork and parental permission.
“Thirty people wanted to get involved, and it’s still growing,” Butler said. “It’s just exploded, and we’ve been able to pull it all together.”
Megan Rost, an eighth-grade student who is on the basketball, soccer and volleyball teams, was the first one to sign up, and is the leader of the leadership students. She’s learned to be grateful for everything she has, she said, because her peer buddies always are smiling and cheerful — even when they mess up.
“They don’t get enough credit for how good they are,” Rost said. “It’s really important for our community to get involved.”
The special needs students attend school Monday and Wednesday. On Tuesday and Thursday they’re in the community, cleaning Workout Express and Big Sky Strength and Fitness, helping clean or do whatever needs to be done at New Life Church and Lakeview Baptist Church, or working at Polson Loaves and Fish food pantry.
“The community knows they have value in a job, and the students end up with references and resumes,” Kelly explained.
Anne Loveless — mom of Fayth Loveless, a special needs student — volunteers as part of the Special Olympics Montana Five Valleys Area Management Team. She moved to Polson just so her daughter could be part of Polson’s program. Student Jenna Evertz became Fayth’s partner while a teacher’s aide, long before the formal peer buddy program began. Evertz visits Loveless at home, and the two go out for meals.
“Now, she is just a friend,” Anne Loveless said.
“She has such a good heart,” Charlo added.
All involved agree the program would not have gotten off the ground without the continued support of the school administration.
“We’ve tried to show as much support for Special Olympics as possible,” Principal Wilson said. “This event is another component that builds relationships with all students in the district, not just the high school.”
Polson High School senior Michael Vergeront explained the close relationships he’s built with special needs students since they were together in middle school.
“I don’t see their disability anymore,” he said, adding that these friends are the strongest and most remarkable people he knows. “I see the person, see their character. I know where their heart lies and who they are aside from their disability.”
Recent results
Unified Doubles
Div. 1
1st Mercedes Dunkerson/Makayla Croft PHS
2nd John Bakerstreet/Sarah Cohen PHS
3rd Victoria Niblack/Macy Simpson PMS
Div. 2
1st Dothan Steene/Hailey Tallmadge PHS
2nd Martin Schlensker/Landin Zimmerer PMS
3rd Lily Niblack/Bella Farrier PMS
Div. 3
1st Rochelle Farnsworth/Destiana Hertz PHS
2nd Cody Merritt/Jerrica McCray PHS
Unified Doubles, Ramp Assisted
Div. 1
1st Kyler Gage/Megan Rost PMS
2nd Fayth Loveless/Jenna Evertz PHS
3rd Amya Rains/Grace Hobbs PMS
Div. 2
1st Joel DuMontier/Ali Hupka PMS
2nd Kaidence MacKay/Marygold Houk PMS
3rd Max Huber/Nina Barfoot PMS
Unified Doubles
Div. 1
1st Mercedes Dunkerson/Makayla Croft PHS
2nd John Bakerstreet/Sarah Cohen PHS
3rd Victoria Niblack/Macy Simpson PMS
Div. 2
1st Dothan Steene/Hailey Tallmadge PHS
2nd Martin Schlensker/Landin Zimmerer PMS
3rd Lily Niblack/Bella Farrier PMS
Div. 3
1st Rochelle Farnsworth/Destiana Hertz PHS
2nd Cody Merritt/Jerrica McCray PHS
