{"id":9636,"date":"2024-05-05T17:00:38","date_gmt":"2024-05-05T17:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/?p=9636"},"modified":"2024-05-14T19:07:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T19:07:25","slug":"let-the-games-begin-fieldstons-special-olympics-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/2024\/05\/let-the-games-begin-fieldstons-special-olympics-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cLet the games begin!\u201d: Fieldston\u2019s Special Olympics 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editors’ Note: All photo sources go to the author, Lily Saal, and Dana Maxson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Athletes, clad in bright uniforms with names like Thunderbolts, Bronx Hornets and Brooklyn Knights, swarmed the breakfast table. Parent volunteers, in between chatting sessions, handled breakfast and the bake sale. Fieldston student volunteers, in their matching blue shirts, popped around as they all completed different tasks. It was 9 AM but, rather than shut tight for sleep, everyone\u2019s eyes filled with excitement \u2013 Special Olympics had finally arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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History teacher Karen Drohan leads the Special Olympics club at Fieldston and works tirelessly for months: fundraising, sending school-wide newsletters, poster-making and more. Drohan explained why she\u2019s so passionate about the cause: her daughter, Ava, who was diagnosed with severe learning disabilities in elementary school. In school, Ava joyfully participated in Special Olympics events. One day, she came home from school very upset. \u201cShe was crying and wouldn\u2019t tell anybody why. She went into her room and closed the door. Whatever happened at school that day \u2013 mean kids saying mean things about her learning disabilities \u2013 she would not talk to her older sister or me,\u201d Drohan paused from her story while her eyes teared up, something she swore happened every time. \u201cWe thought, \u2018Oh ok. She cried herself to sleep,\u2019 but then [Ava] came out of her bedroom wearing the ribbons she won in the Special Olympics and said, \u2018I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m sad about. I\u2019m a champion.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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Drohan finished her story and watched that same daughter, now years beyond her Special Olympics days, cheerfully hand out beaded necklaces. With a smile, Drohan said, \u201cThat was the moment when I said I would give all of my money and all of my time to Special Olympics. I\u2019ve given more time than money, but I will continue to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was the moment when I said I would give all of my money and all of my time to Special Olympics. I\u2019ve given more time than money, but I will continue to do so.\u201d<\/p>Special Olympics Organizer Karen Drohan<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Because of Drohan\u2019s enthusiasm, dozens of Fieldston students, from freshmen to seniors, volunteered. \u201cI had Drohan as a teacher and loved her so much,\u201d exclaimed Logan Farmer (Form V). Many other volunteers credited Drohan as their reason for signing up, including Reanna Bilbao (Form V), who shared, \u201cThe way Drohan talked about Special Olympics convinced me to start working with the club because she truly sounded so passionate. You could tell how much she loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe way Drohan talked about Special Olympics convinced me to start working with the club because she truly sounded so passionate. You could tell how much she loved it.\u201d<\/p>Reanna Bilbao (Form V)<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The spectacular event began with opening ceremonies. Teams paraded around the Upper Field, with posters made by their team managers \u2013 Fieldston students, who led the teams around and became their #1 fans. Alex Bello (Form IV) sang the National Anthem, receiving raucous cheers from the bleachers and athletes on the field. After a reading of the Special Olympics pledge, \u201cLet me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,\u201d and the traditional running of the torch (joined by the Fieldston Eagle), Zoe Ventura (Form V) and Ela Garlin (Form VI) announced the words everyone had been waiting for: \u201cLet the games begin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The field cleared, and competition fiercely began. Basketball athletes played their games in the Upper and JV gyms, and, in the pool, dubbed the \u201cbirdbath\u201d by the Fieldston swim team, swimmers began their warm-ups. The stands filled with athletes not competing \u2013 who always cheered for their fellow athletes on the court and in the pool\u2013 volunteers waiting for their jobs and family members; As spectators raised posters and chanted, a symphony of cheers, whistles and trash-talk filled the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the JV gym, basketball athletes received a special treat: Amiri Moreno (Form VI) grabbed a mic and announced all of the games. When sitting in \u201cthe box,\u201d with him, Moreno explained his commentary strategy: \u201cLet the game heat up and pick your moments.\u201d Moreno\u2019s infectious energy on the mic translated onto the court, where players balled out. A member of the Manhattan Wildcats, Kenny \u201cThe Baller\u201d, brightly explained why he loves the Special Olympics, and why he\u2019s done it for the past 8 years: \u201cI love competing and making friends, even my opponents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Newly added this year, in the yoga room, volunteers set up \u201cHealthy Hearing.\u201d Open to anyone, doctors and specialists checked participants’ ears, and, if needed, pure tone tests, which test for hearing damage. Dr. Lanthe Dunn-Murad ran the Healthy Hearing station at the Special Olympics and explained, \u201cWe partnered with the Special Olympics because hearing is an important part of communication, especially while athletes are competing.\u201d Athletes came and went from the station, but all left with a smile because of Murad and the warmth of her team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe partnered with the Special Olympics because hearing is an important part of communication, especially while athletes are competing.\u201d<\/p>Healthy Hearing Leader Dr. Lanthe Dunn-Murad<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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For club leaders Hannah Greenfield (Form V) and Amanda Su (Form V), responsibilities included organizing all student\/parent volunteers, sending school-wide emails encouraging participation and fundraising throughout the year. Both joined the club freshman year and their passion was abundantly clear, as they cheered loudly from the bleachers. Between cheers, Greenfield commented, \u201cEach year, the players say it\u2019s the best event.\u201d Su added, \u201cWe\u2019re just looking to continue the legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach year, the players say it\u2019s the best event. We\u2019re just looking to continue the legacy.\u201d<\/p>Special Olympics Club Leader<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n

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Greenfield and Su, along with other members of the club, assign positions and jobs, but it becomes a \u201chelp where needed event.\u201d Some volunteers, like Alden Harting (Form VI), worked at the swim events, timing the athletes and handing out medals. Others, like Chase Shaftel (Form V) led loud cheering sections. As a member of the Boys Varsity Basketball team, it\u2019s special for Shaftel to \u201csee people play the sport I love. That\u2019s what I\u2019d want: people coming to support me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Fieldston athletes, the Girls Varsity Lacrosse team, fresh off a 7 AM morning practice, stayed at Fieldston to help at the event. Enjoying her last spring season and Special Olympics, Ksenia Chmatenko (Form VI), shared, \u201cAs a senior, this is the final one for me, which makes it even sweeter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Amongst frantic volunteers, eager athletes and talkative coaches, Drohan represents the eye of the hurricane. After the swim concluded, many volunteers looked expectantly at her. Quickly she remarked, \u201cBasketball\u2019s not over yet.\u201d Till the very last whistle, Drohan buzzed around, doing a million things at once. Finally, as the event concluded, she had a moment of appreciation for her volunteers, whom she hugged as they left, and for the athletes, who she treated with the same love and respect as her daughter. Throughout the day, when speaking to Fieldston students volunteering, almost everyone spoke of Drohan with a twinkle in their eyes. Her leadership provides a certain, indescribable feeling of love and community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“[Special Olympics] is a huge infusion of uncomplicated, positive energy into the community and it makes me extremely proud to be part of this School.\u201d<\/p>Head of School Joe Algrant<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Head of School Joe Algrant detailed, \u201cThis important tradition in our School brings joy to many people and also demonstrates two critical pieces of the Adler philosophy: the importance of deed over creed, and that we benefit ourselves by benefiting others and that we benefit humanity in the execution of events like the Special Olympics. It’s a huge infusion of uncomplicated, positive energy into the community and it makes me extremely proud to be part of this School.\u201d There is no day more Fieldston than the Special Olympics when athletes and volunteers come together regardless of any barriers for one reason: the love of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Editors’ Note: All photo sources go to the author, Lily Saal, and Dana Maxson Athletes, clad in bright uniforms with names like Thunderbolts, Bronx Hornets and Brooklyn Knights, swarmed the breakfast table. Parent volunteers, in between chatting sessions, handled breakfast and the bake sale. Fieldston student volunteers, in their matching blue shirts, popped around as they all completed different tasks. It was 9 AM but, rather than shut tight for sleep, everyone\u2019s eyes filled with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":301,"featured_media":9640,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[347,318,577,317],"tags":[],"coauthors":[429],"class_list":["post-9636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-news","category-photo-essay","category-sports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2B28F8FA-096C-4A3D-A971-CE0142D6C78A_1_105_c-e1715187474244.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/301"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9636"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9688,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9636\/revisions\/9688"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9636"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=9636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}