1,200+ Volunteer At Cherokee Schools Special Olympics Games

WOODSTOCK, GA — More than 1,200 students and volunteers participated in the annual Cherokee Schools Special Olympics Awareness Games on Friday, Oct. 4, at River Ridge High School.

Cherokee County elementary, middle and high schools sent athletes and student volunteers to the event, which was co-coordinated this year by Amy Aenchbacher, Dave Martinez, Paula Dixon, Amanda Farist, Ben Farist, Noah Fornuto, Emily Heath and Jennifer Merges.

PTAs hosted additional games and activities for athletes as well.

E.T. Booth Middle School celebrated its Special Olympics athletes with a heroic sendoff for the Cherokee Schools Special Olympics Awareness Games on Friday.

The student athletes paraded through campus, where hallways and walkways were lined with cheering students and teachers and the school’s band. The school’s bus was led to River Ridge High School for the Awareness Games by a motorcade of police cruisers, motorcycles and a K9 unit.

“It was a spectacular event that my students will never forget,” special education teacher Lori Salvino said. “The love and pride these students felt today will always be in their hearts. With our CCSD initiative of Social and Emotional Learning, our school knocked it out of the park - so incredibly proud to be an E.T. Booth Falcon.”

A gallery of photos from the ceremony and events can be viewed here. Photos from the Parade of Athletes can be viewed here.