Story by Kathy McPherson
On Friday, Durham Academy Upper School will celebrate its 38th year hosting Durham County Special Olympics athletes for a day of joy and togetherness. The year’s Special Olympics marks the return of the Spring Games in-person competition that was not possible in 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DA held a virtual celebration of Special Olympics athletes in 2020 and 2021. Last year’s event was an in-person Special Olympics Fun Day because competition was not yet permitted.
“This year, we are back to revisiting the program that DA has previously hosted,” said Upper School dance teacher Laci McDonald, who serves as co-coordinator of Special Olympics for DA along with Upper School learning specialist Jen Rogers.
Rogers said about 260 students who are served by exceptional children’s programs at Durham County public elementary schools are expected to attend Special Olympics Spring Games. Roughly 140 of the students will compete to see how far they can throw a softball and how fast they can run 25 meters.
For the nearly four decades that Durham Academy has hosted Special Olympics, the Upper School has canceled classes for the day so that all Upper School students and faculty/staff members can be a part of the much-anticipated event. DA students train earlier in the year to serve as buddies who support and encourage the athletes during competition, they host face painting and photo booth stations, and help with events to make sure the day is fun-filled for everyone who attends.
“It's such an important thing that the kids at DA are able to have this outreach into a different community that we don't get access to at our school,” said 11th-grader Margaret Jester, one of 17 DA students on the Special Olympics Committee. “I’m really excited to see the real [in-person, competition-based] Special Olympics.”
Friday’s Spring Games will begin with a parade of athletes along the Upper School track. Students representing each participating school will walk behind a banner they helped create. Representatives from the Durham Police Department will carry a Special Olympics torch; a military honor guard will present the United States and North Carolina flags; and a choral group from Hillandale Elementary School will sing the national anthem.
The community served by Special Olympics has long been dear to both McDonald and Rogers. Rogers began volunteering with students with developmental and intellectual differences as a high schooler, and she majored in special education in college. McDonald has a personal connection to the Special Olympics community through a family member.
“It's very important to me that individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities are celebrated and woven into the fabric of our communities,” she said.
“I think ultimately what I love so much is seeing our DA students push beyond what could feel uncomfortable, to really rise to the occasion and to be their best selves,” McDonald said. “It's so great to see them do something outside of what normally happens in our school day, but also to be so much a part of our school community.”
Durham Academy’s longtime commitment to Special Olympics was recognized in January when the Upper School was honored with the 2022 Organization of the Year Award by Special Olympics of North Carolina.