NEN hosts first Special Olympics event

By Geoffrey Woehlk | October 13, 2023 |

SUBMITTED BY NORTHEAST NODAWAY
Drayson Tanner is assisted during the 275 Conference Special Olympics event held at Northeast Nodaway last week.

RAVENWOOD, Mo. — For the first time, the Northeast Nodaway school district hosted a 275 Conference Special Olympics event on Oct. 6 with participants coming to Ravenwood from across the conference for a day of kickball and celebration.

After heading through the elementary school hallway, lined by more than 200 students with handmade signs of encouragement, the athletes made their way to the gym for the competition.

Each athlete was announced to the crowd as they entered the gym and were paired with a buddy athlete responsible for working with them to successfully kick and walk/run the bases during the kickball game that made up the competition. Each team was made up of various grade levels.

“The opportunity for these athletes was priceless,” said Heidi Beatty, Northeast Nodaway principal, in an email to The Forum. “I couldn’t have been more proud of our visiting athletes and their buddies & teachers, our own athletes and buddies as well as all of our faculty and students who made the morning the special event that it was.”

The event kicked off with “The Star-Spangled Banner” played by the Northeast Nodaway band, the recitation of the Special Olympics Athlete Oath and a welcome message from Superintendent Brenda Dougan who declared the games open.

The stands were packed in the school gym during the events. Upper elementary students created posters to cheer on all those who participated. With cheers and no small amount of dancing, the large crowd was excited to celebrate with athletes.

Beatty said the event had been in the works for more than a year after Sheldon Saxton, PE teacher and girls basketball coach at Northeast Nodaway, broached the idea during a 275 Conference professional development day in September 2022.

“They’re a really underserved group,” Saxton told The Forum. “We were just trying to make their day a little bit brighter in any way we could.”

Beatty said the district plans to continue the event next year and into the future.

“I’m not sure there were enough words for this event,” she said. “Pride. Honor. Positivity. There were tears, hugs, smiles and laughter. We are extremely grateful for the schools who were willing to join us for the day and for our students and staff for planning such an important event for important kids!”