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Inclusion Week at AGHS

Over 500 athletes competed in the 805 Games, with over 30 students from AGHS.
(Photo Courtesy of Phillip Reid)
Over 500 athletes competed in the 805 Games, with over 30 students from AGHS. (Photo Courtesy of Phillip Reid)

The Hangout Club and the Special Education Department hosted Inclusion Week from April 29 to May 1. Throughout the week, students were able to participate in various lunchtime activities designed to build momentum and support for the 805 Games held at the end of the week.

Special Education Teacher Phillip Reid said that the activities, which bring awareness to neurodiverse students, allow students of all capabilities to come together and have fun.

“These events ensure that everyone, both students with and without disabilities, know that they belong, that they have a place and a voice,” Reid said.

Hangout Club President Payton Shrock (‘27) said that these events allow students to partake in activities that they normally don’t get to.

“It allows [special education students] to be socially involved with other students whom they don’t get to interact with regularly,” Shrock said. “It also allows them to be outside of the classroom, which they find exciting.”

Inclusion Week kicked off on Wednesday, April 29, with a lunchtime activity in the AGHS Quad that included decorating paper hands with encouraging words and decorating cookies.

Some of the more popular options during the field day included Uno and Spikeball.

On Thursday, April 30, the lunch-time activity was a field day on the 900s side, which included many lawn and board games.

Inclusion Week concluded with the second annual 805 Games held at Cuesta College. The games were previously known as the Special Olympics, but after event organizers stepped down, they continued to hold a similar event for special education students in the area. A variety of events were offered to competitors, such as track, shot put, softball throw, and turbo javelin.

Shrock, who will continue to lead the events next year, hopes to create events that attract more people to participate and come out to volunteer for the games.

“I’m hoping to make it bigger, primarily by making it three days leading up to the games instead of just two,” Shrock said. “I also want to move all of the events to the quad because it’s harder for more students to come out to the 900s.”

Some of the more popular options during the field day included Uno and Spikeball. (Sam Lopez)
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