durhamregion.com 4 The Citizen May 21, 2015 Tim Whittaker - Publisher Joanne Burghardt - Editor-in-Chief Mike Johnston - Managing Editor Fred Eismont - Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak - Classified Advertising Manager Abe Fakhourie - Distribution Manager Cheryl Haines - Composing Manager CLASSIFIEDS 905-215-0442 ADVERTISING 905-215-0472 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Member: Ontario Press Council, OCNA, CCNA, LMA. All content copyright. A Metroland Media Group Ltd. Publication Brooklin kids get into the paralympic spirit Students from St. Bridget Catholic School try boccia, athletics, goal ball and sitting volleyball leading up to Parapan Am Games Parvaneh Pessian ppessian@durhamregion.com BROOKLIN -- Students from St. Bridget Catholic School got out of the classroom and got active recently during Paralympic Schools Week held nation-wide from May 4 to 8. On May 5, more than 200 Grade 5 students from across Whitby -- including about 60 from the Brooklin school -- gathered at the Abilities Centre to compete in parasports such as boccia, athletics, goal ball and sitting volleyball. The initiative was part of the Canadian Paralympic Committee's Fundamentals physical literacy resource, according to Gabriel Shiu, manager of sport programs and development at the Abilities Centre. "The purpose of the Fundamentals resource is to give kids the basic common skills you need to excel at any sport, whether it's softball, basketball, soccer, bowling, or a parasport like bocce or sitting volleyball," he said. "So what we are doing is giving kids the basic skills of understanding things like how to throw something or how to run, but using parasport as the conduit or vessel to provide an equal playing ground or equal physical opportunity." The other participating schools were Sir Samuel Steele Public School, Williamsburg Public School, West Lynde Public School and Julie Payette Public School. For 12 weeks, students were introduced to Paralympic sports during their weekly gym class in preparation for a competition between the schools on the day of the event. "It's more about fun and participation than it is about times and scores so it's about demonstrating the new skills that they have learned," said Mr. Shiu. Sandra Bokovay, Grade 5 teacher at St. Bridget Catholic School, said the students were very enthusiastic about learning a new spin on traditional sports they already enjoy. "They're just excited about any type of sport but learning about someone with a disability and how they participate in sport is very important," she said. "Catholic schools are integrative of all ability levels and all types of different children in the same setting so they are very prepared for something like this. It's also important to have them be aware of the Parapan Am Games that are coming up so they can be supportive of the athletes." The Abilities Centre will host boccia and judo during the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am games, held Aug. 7 to 15. The Pan Am games are July 10 to 26 at various GTA venues, including in Ajax and Oshawa. "I think it's great that persons that have disability can play sports so they don't give up on their dream if they wanted to be an athlete," said Daria Nicholson, 10. "My favourite of the sports was goal ball because I never knew that persons who are blind can play a sport and I think it's very creative that they put a bell in the ball so you know if the ball is coming toward you." Nolan Dunn, 11, said he preferred boccia ball over the other sports because it was "calm and relaxing," as well as easy to learn. Leila Quirk, a Grade 5 teacher at St. Bridget, said she was impressed with the program's ability to not only encourage students to be more active but teach them new skills and respect for others at the same time. "It's very hands-on and it's just really neat exposure for the kids to come to a centre where they can see how things are designed to be more accessible for everyone." Metroland Media Group Ltd. is a signature sponsor of the Toronto 2015 PanAm Games Torch Relay, presented by President's Choice and OLG. WHITBY -- Bosco Shea and Ryan Geci from St. Bridget Catholic School participated in a goal ball event using the sound of the ball as hundreds of Grade 5 students from across Whitby, including Colin McGregor and Keegan Juchau from Sir Samuel Steele, participated in Paralympic Schools Week at the Abilities Centre. Students spent the day competing in parasports such as boccia, athletics, goal ball and sitting volleyball. JasOn LieBreGTs / MeTrOLanD