MONROE, CT — The annual Law Enforcement Torch Run took place this week and went through town on Friday. Monroe police officers carried the Flame of Hope for their leg of the trek across the state to honor Special Olympics athletes and promote inclusion and acceptance for people of all abilities.
Some of the fifth graders at Monroe Elementary serve as partners, who work with special needs peers from kindergarten through fifth grade. They assist their school mates in various activities as part of the Unified Sports program throughout the year, culminating with the Torch Run.
“It’s awesome. These guys look forward to it all year — both the partners and the special ed kids,” said Emmett Cole, a physical education teacher at Monroe Elementary, who runs the school’s Unified Sports program.
“It’s nice for the students to see the partners run with the special needs children,” said fifth grade Monroe Elementary teacher Amanda Cirino.
Parent, Amanda Gately, was on hand with children Brynn and Riley, who were there to watch their sister and first-grader Ellie represent her school and the Unified Sports program.
“They’re excited to cheer on their sister and support her in whatever she does,” Gately said.
That is the mentality of the Unified program.
Cole noted how the Unified Sports program brings children of a variety of abilities together not only on the playing fields, but in the hallways in schools.
“You can see they get very close,” Cole said.
The students play soccer, volleyball and basketball each year. This year Cole added Wiffle Ball and bowling to the mix. There are sports-playing opportunities for special needs children both during the school day and after school.
The Torch Run carried the spirit of school-wide inclusion from Unified Sports to all of the classrooms as students supported the partners and athletes alike.
“It’s so fun — so nice to see the whole school come out and support everyone,” said Jenna Quintiliano, a Monroe Elementary special education teacher who is part of the school’s Unified program. “It’s nice to see the whole community come together, including the police officers.”
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