After a week of cloudy skies and rainy days the sun came out to shine on Special Olympics. On Friday, May 4, Fossil Ridge High School hosted the eighth annual Special Olympics event. The games have been bringing together special needs competitors from twenty-two different high schools, middle schools, and transition schools from both Poudre and Thompson Valley School Districts for eight years now. The games are a fun, day-long event that allows the competitors to represent their school and participate in various events that they usually would not be able to.

Fossil alone had over 100 volunteers decked out in green t-shirts to help set up and run the event. However, the volunteers were not the only ones who made this event possible with numerous parents and donors who contributed all year. Volunteers from all schools and the volunteers from the Special Olympics of Colorado (SOCO) did everything from setting up the track to handing out ribbons to cheering for every participant. If not for the positivity and support from the amazing volunteers the event would not have been the same.

Opening ceremonies began at 9:30 A.M. which started with two competitors, one holding the American flag and the other holding the Colorado state flag, leading the volunteers who proudly held the Special Olympics banner. Then the schools came out of the inflatable Fang’s head led by Fossil and walked around the track. After all the schools had been announced the crowd was led in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Fossil choir, along with other special needs competitors, sang the National Anthem. The Special Olympics oath was also recited before the games began.

Competitors gathered on the track and field to compete in events varying from wheelchair races to shot put contests. Each competitor had a buddy who brought them to their events and cheered them on as they competed. The smiles and laughs from kids as they ran through the finish line and got awarded a ribbon showed just how much this event means to them. Schools even brought signs along to cheer on their teams and Poudre High School won the Coolest School Award for their outstanding school spirit at the event.

Volunteers like Caelan Campbell and Matthew Naffier recommend that Fossil students and community members volunteer at the event next year. Campbell has been volunteering with Special Olympics for two years now and says, “I think it’s really fun thing to do. You get to see a bunch of happy kids enjoying themselves outside in the sun and it’s a really good event because you’re helping kids with disabilities have fun.” While senior Naffier said, “I’ve been volunteering with Special Olympics since 2014. Special Olympics means getting out and helping and supporting a lot of students with special needs.” The event takes place all day and brings so much joy to everyone involved, if considering volunteering next year the integrated services department at Fossil would be able to give you more information.

The event also saw three service dogs walking around and interacting with the kids. Turbo, Olly, and Hazel are all therapy dogs whose parents work at Fossil and bring them in to interact with students once a week. Mr. Anastasia, science teacher and owner of Turbo, said “It’s a dream come true to bring Turbo to school and events like this because he and I are buddies. We get to hang out together all the time and he’s such a good dog and he’s so fun to have. I can’t really describe it in words but it’s just really fun.” Turbo comes to Fossil every Wednesday and works with a few students he’s a sweet and gentle little dog who has become as much a part of the Fossil Family as his owner.

Principal Dr. Chaplain was there all day to watch and participate in the event. She said Special Olympics “allows all the kids to come together and just celebrate all their accomplishments. Celebrate who they are and try things they never even thought of doing before.” Chaplain also highly recommends students and community members volunteer at future Special Olympics events. The event was an outstanding accomplishment made by volunteers to benefit some of the most amazing students in Poudre and Thompson Valley Districts, congratulations to everyone who competed and good luck next year.