Rahway Hosts Special Olympics

Rahway, NJ. When veteran Rahway High School Special Education teacher, Trish Williams organizes an event, it is guaranteed to be successful. Rahway School District’s tenth annual Special Olympics on Friday, May 29, was no exception.

The morning events began with a parade of 87 Olympians and a demonstration by the Rahway High School JROTC Drill Team. The games included a variety of Olympic events which engaged the elementary students in activities that encouraged small and large motor skills movements and cooperation between peers. One of the student’s favorite activities was the parachute activity, sponsored and run by ProCare Rehabilitation.

Once the Olympic events portion of the day came to a conclusion and lunchtime arrived for the Olympians, Mrs. Williams could be found offering the elementary students their choice of hamburgers, freshly grilled by her husband and volunteer, Cliff Williams, Rahway Board of Education member Edward Quinn and Rahway community member, Bernie Robson. Mrs. Williams was supported by a total of 57 volunteers including teachers from Roosevelt and Madison Schools, students from Rahway High School and local business leaders like Ana Montes and Audra Loccisano from JRS Century 21 Realtors, who donated all of the volunteer t-shirts once again this year. Ms. Locciano said, “We live and work in Rahway. We want to give back to the community, and it is wonderful to see the kids moving around and having a great time. Look at the happiness on their faces.”

Olympic medals were sponsored and awarded to each participant by Rahway Savings Insurance Agency under the direction of Brian Duffy. This year Rahway’s Special Olympics was generously sustained by the Rahway Education Association as well as many businesses in the Union County area: Clark 7-11, RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, Trinitas Hospital, Dr. David S. Rosenfeld, Dr. Phillip Bushinger, Mr. Michael Smalling, Director of Public Works City of Rahway, Rita’s Ice in Rahway, TD Bank and United Water.

After the awards ceremony, Rahway High School Robotics Club advisors, Greg Wesolowich and Jeff Kurczeski exhibited a student-made robot to the young Olympians, introducing them to the possibility of future extracurricular activities in their high school years. “Robotics Club is for all levels of learners. It gives students exposure to the STEM curriculum, and who doesn’t love a robot?” said Mr. Wesolowich.

In looking forward to next year’s event, Mrs. Williams mentioned the support of the Rahway School District administration that allows her the time to plan and supervise this well-coordinated undertaking, specifically, Interim Superintendent, Christine Salcito, Program Supervisor of Special Education, Barbara Pyne and Supervisor of Services for Children, Larry Abramowitz. The success of this yearly event is evidence of Mrs. Williams’s dedication to all the students of the Rahway School District, “It is all about the kids. Seeing the Olympians having fun and smiling, is great, but when a high school volunteer thanks you for including them and allowing them to work the event, it makes it all worthwhile.”