Stratford takes Division 2 title

Students from special needs departments in Taranaki secondary schools recently competed in the Special Olympics New Zealand Taranaki Secondary Schools Football World Cup and Boccia Event. Altogether, 122 students participated in the TSB Stadium competition in New Plymouth in September.

Each team represented a specific country, with Stratford High School students representing Germany, Africa and Japan in various events.

"Stratford Germany" took out first place and the trophy in division two football, after beating Spotswood College, Waitara High School and Hawera High School. The trophy was presented to the team last week.

Lawrie O'Connor (14) was in the winning team and says he will play again. "Holding the trophy made me feel like an All Black or something, and football was easy to play as I can kick the ball."

Lawrie's teammate Diana Yeates (15) says she scored lots of goals at the event and she also wants to play again.

"Winning is fun and I like being able to kick the ball into the goal. You can also run with the ball so you need to be fast when you run."

Sharon Greenham, a teacher at the unit, says they have been focusing on physical education and health over the past couple of years and the students are really enjoying it.

"We play cricket some lunchtimes, with students from the main school coming over and joining in, we go swimming weekly, they are able to go horse riding, play golf; there is a wide range of activities for the students to get involved in."

Sharon says the focus on health carries into other parts of the syllabus as well. "It's about well-being in school so we talk about healthy food and the importance of being active, it becomes part of everything we do."

The students did very well in the Special Olympics. "Praise should also be given to the mainstream students who give up their time and come along to umpire and help out," she says.