Kennedy Students Rise to the Challenge, Exceed Expectations.

Kennedy Catholic High School will host the 14 annual Challenge Day on campus on Friday,
March 2, 2012.

Challenge Day is a day of games and athletic
competition designed for special athletes with disabilities that impact their mobility. The program is organized by Special School District. Challenge Day differs from
the traditional Special Olympic events because even athletes with the most limited mobility can participate.

Kennedy will be hosting over 200 athletes this
Friday. The athletes come from various schools in the Special School District. Each athlete will have a Kennedy ‘buddy’.  About thirty more Kennedy students
will work in the “Victory Village”, where they will run games and activities to help the athletes enjoy the day.

Kennedy’s Campus Minister, Chuck Chiodini,
spearheads the effort on campus. He puts tremendous pride and effort into the day and the participation of the Kennedy students.  Mr. Chiodini states, “One of the amazing things about working with children with disabilities is that they are able to pull so much good out you, good that you didn’t think you had: patience, acceptance, friendship, joy, simplicity, delight, gratitude, accomplishment.  I believe our community has changed greatly by the experience.”

Kennedy Catholic has hosted Challenge Day for
over a decade because of the value of the day. It challenges stereotypes. Kennedy students are called to recognize the dignity of every human life, to find joy in the simple things in life. 

Mr. Chiodini is always delighted by the response of the student volunteers. “Our students always rise to the challenge of working with an athlete with special needs; they are always friendly, open, welcoming. They seem to really fulfill the purpose of the day, they help the
athletes have fun and get more in return then they believe possible.”