The Hudson Valley Special Olympics Regional Aquatics & Basketball Competition is fast approaching, and Dutchess BOCES is coming together to prepare athletes for the competition, as well as to fundraise for Hudson Valley Special Olympics as a whole.
“It’s really exciting because this is our first year back with Special Olympics competitions since the pandemic,” said Tracey Smith, a special education teacher at Salt Point Center (SPC) who is helping to coordinate this year.
Dutchess BOCES students at SPC and in the Pegasus program have practice once a week for the basketball skills competitions that will be held at Marist College March 24. Students will compete in three events: the 10-meter dribble, target pass and spot shot.
Student Lloyd Conners has enjoyed his experience with Special Olympics so far. “I like it because it’s basketball and basketball is my thing,” he shared. “I like shooting baskets.” The event Conners is looking forward to the most is the spot shot. 
To participate in Special Olympics, athletes need to be eight or older and have an intellectual disability. “One cool thing about Special Olympics is that our parents are so used to hearing what their kids can't do. Here, it’s really ability over disability. Each athlete competes at their level and with their own age bracket,” said Erin Scott, a special education teacher at the Career and Technical Institute (CTI) who is coordinating between Special Olympics and the two groups participating.
Susan Briggs-Lopane, a physical education teacher who is helping prepare the athletes from Pegasus, shared another aspect of what makes Special Olympics a great opportunity for students; “It gives them the ability to be on a team, and they're really good about sportsmanship with each other.”
SPC athlete Quinlan O’Neil is experiencing this team environment in his training. “It's been fun so far. I like that I get to do it with my friends, and I really like basketball. It’s active and it gets you up and moving.” His favorite event is the target pass.
“I do it for the kids, to give them the experience that some of them might never forget,” shared Scott Calcagni, a physical education teacher at SPC.
Polar Plunge
A lot goes into creating these unforgettable moments. In order to provide the athletes with free year-round competitions, large fundraising efforts are needed. That is where the local Fishkill Polar Plunge, benefiting Special Olympics, comes in. 
The plunge into the frigid waters of the Sharp Reservoir, on Feb. 17, comes after teams from schools, businesses, and other groups have worked hard for months to fundraise for the athletes.
“The money that we raise in the Polar Plunge stays directly in Hudson Valley, which is unique to any fundraising because it doesn't go to any operation costs, it all directly supports the athletes,” shared Scott, the captain of the team.
A beloved tradition, this is the tenth year BOCES is participating. The team is working hard to defend its Cool School title as the highest fundraising school involved in the competition, which BOCES has held since the 2015.
Gearing up for the Special Olympics is an effort that brings the entire BOCES campus together. CTI construction students got involved by measuring out all the skill distances, setting up the targets and the gyms for practices. While practices are ramping up, 30 student and faculty joined the team to fundraise for the Polar Plunge, and CTI security and law enforcement students are ready to support the local police department with parking and security at the event.
It’s things like this that show what BOCES, alongside the entire local community, can achieve when everyone lends a helping hand.
Good luck to all our athletes and our polar plungers.