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The first year at a new school is almost always special for a principal. For Joan Tod, her first year at her new school is going to be extraordinary.
A transfer landed Tod at Albert Lacombe Catholic Elementary School, in St. Albert, a city that happens to be hosting the 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. The K–6 school houses the St. Albert Sports Academy for students in Grades 4–9 and fully integrates students with diverse learning needs into its classrooms. Tod instantly saw a great fit between her new school and the winter games and quickly moved to scoop opportunities to bring the two together.
“Athletics and inclusion are key parts of the culture at Albert Lacombe,” explained Tod. “Having the national winter games and hundreds of elite Special Olympics athletes in our own backyard is going to be one big, living lesson plan.”
Special Olympics provides sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. During the national games, more than 650 Special Olympics athletes representing 10 provinces and three territories will compete in seven sports. All of them, including the more than 80 members of Team Alberta, will receive support and encouragement as soon as they arrive, thanks to students at Tod’s school and other schools in St. Albert and Morinville, to which she has spread word of the games.
“Our students will be designing individual messages that will be included in the official welcome packages presented to the athletes upon their arrival,” said Tod. “We are doing that to welcome the athletes, but also to create awareness of the events and athletes that are a part of the games. We have also been granted the opportunity to be the host school of the Law Enforcement Torch Relay, which officially kicks off the opening ceremonies for the games. That should be really exciting for the whole school.”
Tod and her staff are also looking at ways to educate their students about the mission and purpose of Special Olympics and are using web-based education tools that the Special Olympics makes available online. More than anything, she wants students to see the Special Olympics athletes in competition.
“We hope to get our students out to some of the actual events, maybe curling and snowshoeing, since we’re lucky enough to be within walking distance of those venues,” said Tod. “I think that seeing the heart, effort and skill the athletes demonstrate when in competition will be enlightening and inspirational for all of us.”
Tod believes the impact of involvement in the games can only be positive for her students and staff. That is because the Special Olympics movement strives to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people, a goal that aligns perfectly with what Albert Lacombe School is all about, particularly in its faith dimension.
“‘Be someone special for someone else’ is the mission statement of Albert Lacombe,” said Tod. “Having the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in our home city provides an extra special opportunity for us to do just that.”
