The Peak - March 2024

This month, we're dedicating the Peak Newsletter to the 2024 Wachusett Special Olympics.

We couldn't be more proud of our athletes or more grateful to everyone who took part in

planning, supporting, and attending this truly special event.

Dear Wachusett Community,

Our annual Special Olympics program was held at Wachusett Regional High School on March 14th. I am thrilled to share that the event was a tremendous success. Our amazing athletes from across the district poured their hearts and souls into the competition as always. The support and enthusiasm from everyone who took part, including our high school student volunteers, were truly commendable. Over 100 WRHS students generously offered their time and energy to make the event a memorable one for our athletes.

Furthermore, I am delighted to acknowledge the positive participation of so many parents and guardians. Their presence and encouragement during the Special Olympics truly added to the inclusive and supportive atmosphere. It is heartwarming to see our community come together to celebrate the abilities and achievements of all our athletes.

It is imperative that I send a personal thank you to Mr. Derek VanOudenhove, who organized and ran this event for the ninth year. As always, he did an amazing job organizing the event for 13 schools! We deeply appreciate his efforts in creating, supporting, organizing and successfully implementing an event this big. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, Coach V!

Again, I would like to express my gratitude for the support and participation from all those involved in making the Special Olympics a memorable occasion. We look forward to organizing more such events in the future and continuing our mission of promoting inclusivity and empowering our students. We believe that events like these foster a sense of unity and promote inclusivity within our school. The Special Olympics not only provide an opportunity for our athletes to showcase their talents but also inspire and motivate others to embrace their own unique abilities.

Sincerely,

Joan DeAngelis

Director of Special Education & Student Services

Students and staff at Glenwood Elementary School showed their support for their Special Olympics participants in a big way. The entire school gathered to cheer on their athletes as they headed out to compete. Nice job, Glenwood!

A Huge standing ovation and heartfelt shout-out to Derek VanOudenhove of the PE Department (aka Coach V) for his dedication and tireless efforts in organizing yet another memorable District Wide Special Olympics this year. The planning for this event begins in the Fall and extends right up to the event day itself.

With over 120 athletes participating and an impressive team of 105 WRHS student volunteers lending their support, this event was truly extraordinary. It exemplifies the spirit of our school community coming together, and I am deeply honored that we have the privilege of hosting this event at our high school every year. Thank you Coach V !!!

Mr. Pratt