News Staff Report
The weather turned cold and windy Thursday, Feb. 29, but it couldn’t dampen the spirits of the students and volunteers participating in Super Fun Day at W.S. Neal High School in Brewton. Kids from public schools in the county smiled and competed their way through athletic events tailored especially for them.
“The day was about our kids and nothing more!” said Suzanne Barnett, event organizer and Special Services Coordinator for the county school system.
The next day, Neal teacher Austin Rogers shared her observations: “I do not think I have enough room to type all of the kind things people have said to us about yesterday. I have volunteers coming by and talking about how much they enjoyed working with kids. One student even had a long conversation with a teacher about what causes a child to have Autism. Yesterday was an amazing day at NHS!”
Escambia County public schools participated in Special Olympics from the program’s origin in 1994. When Special Olympics made drastic changes to its procedures and protocols in 2000, a homegrown version was crafted when local organizers created their own event to fit the needs of Escambia County. Super Fun Day was born.