The Young Athletes program is an all-inclusive sports play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities. This program is designed to introduce all children ages 2-7 into the world of sports. Young Athletes is designed to focus on teaching young athletes specific skills that are needed for foundational sports skills. These skill areas are walking & running, balance & jumping, trapping & catching, throwing, striking, kicking and advanced skills. This program is aligned with other Special Olympics program(s) and this serves as a great introduction about volunteering, coaching, and supporting Special Olympics.
Here at Troy Crossroads we are offering this program to students in two different settings to include a wide variety of students. Both programs focus on students working on these foundational sport skills for 8 weeks and then celebrating their achievements by participating in a culmination or "field event" in May.
This is the second year for our Little Bees Preschool students to be participating in this program during their gross motor activities that take place during the school day. Teachers and classroom assistants coach and teach these young athletes a variety of skills by teaching them the isolated skills through exploration and play. Then staff expand these skills into fun and active games that they play during their gross motor time.
We expanded the program this year into an after school program as well, for our elementary K-4 students. Students were selected to participate in this after school program in grades K-2 athletes and 3-4 as buddies and student coaches. Teachers donate their time after school to help coach these students twice a week after school for 8 weeks of training.
Both of these programs work on students fostering active gross motor skills to help them to develop their physical and developmental needs. Students build an appreciation about fitness and sports life, through the participation of this program. Once students have completed their training student get to participate in the Culminating Event which is a great way to showcase their hard work. It will be a fun day for all athletes to demonstrate all of their abilities and new found motor skills! All athletes need to register for this program in order to participate.
Culmination Day is scheduled for May 18th 2016 to celebrate the 2015-2016 athletes. The event will take place on school grounds outside, weather permitting. You are invited to come out and support the athletes as they Go For The Gold in out school Campaign of Ability Awareness that "All Students Cross Roads Differently".
Schedule for Culmination Day By Teacher and Grade Level
Preschool AM 9-11 am
Elementary School All Athletes K-4 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Oldenburg 11:30 am
Rothstein 11:45 am
Leverso 11:45 am
Preschool PM 1-3 pm