2013 Special Olympic Games of Southwestern Lousiana - The Swann Class

Cailie, TaeQuan, LaShawn, Esmerelda, Dustin, Hilton, Kenley, Reginald, and Imari
Mrs. Swann & Mr. Jarden

This past Friday The Swann's Class had the privilege of joining hundreds of others in the area for the annual Special Olympic Games! We represented Beauregard Parrish and of course Carver E.S. and my 2nd and 3rd grade students rocked! 9 out of 14 cygnets (baby swans) boarded a bus around 9am and drove about 45-minutes to Sulpher H.S. in Sulpher, LA where the games where hosted this year. Following the opening ceremonies consisting of welcoming speeches, prayers, and the lighting and running of the torch around the track, all of the teams were dispersed to their individual and group events.

Look, I found two former Swann's at the games - Jayce & Issabella (in 4th Grade now)!

And Mr. Jarden found the KPRC TV Channel 7 Team!

Our single event wasn't slated until 11:30am so we had time to spare and in the interim there were booths set up around the venue for the Olympians to engage in all types of free fun and games where they could win prizes (sort of like in carnival/fair fashion) - and they won so much that we had to find garbage bags to simply lug around all of their loot!

LaShawn visited a tattoo booth and then wouldn't use his right arm from that point on for fear of ruining it; you could only imagine the results!

Hilton had a perfect throw!

Esmerelda deciding on a strategy

And she follows through effortlessly.

LaShawn just decided to step all the way up...lol

Kenley has the hold, kinda correct...

But we have to work on his execution.

Cailie in an action shot football toss!

Esmerelda found a coloring tent activity

Cailie playing a ring toss game

Dustin's Grandma swaddled in a blanket (it was a crisp morning but warmed up by afternoon).

Esmerelda & Cailie about to take the track for their event.

Afterwards we took a rest break and headed to a snack tent where we were provided with chips, drinks, fruit, and other treats before our event.We had two wonderful class volunteers as Dustin's grandma and aunt helped us wrangle our bunch and ensured they weren't lost in the masses of other participants. Olympians from elementary school age to adulthood were participating in events, so my students were quite impressed as they saw how fast some of the other athletes were running, jumping, and how far they were throwing. They were also intimidated about how big/tall the volunteering athletes from local colleges were (especially Dustin who is tiny and loved football, but was astonished and had to be coaxed into a picture with the McNeese football players).

Dustin with the McNeese football players (who "took a knee" to ease his anxiety)

At the end of the day, "The cygnets" ran well and won many ribbons in the 100-Meter (their only event of the day). LaShawn, who waved to the crowd as he ran down the track and Dustin who stopped after about 10-steps claiming that he was tired (I think he was really embarrassed that everyone was faster than him), seem determined to make me work as I had to run onto the track and finish the event with him!

Check out the videos of the actual races:

At the Awards Podium:

LaShawn, TaeQuan, Dustin

Reginald, Imari, and another Olympian

I wasn't able to be at all places at all times and didn't get the pics of all of my Olympians (missing 4)on the podium (insert sad face) but Mr. Jarden did get this great snapshot of them headed back to the bus all in celebratory spirit! HA HA HA

Kenley, Reginald, LaShawn, Esmerelda,, Imari, and Dustin

It was a great day and I wouldn't trade my career for the world!