“When I was in Lower School, I never would have imagined I would be cheering at a community service event and that cheering could have a greater impact than just at football games,” junior Mayes Beeler, a varsity cheerleader, said. “However, cheering at this event made me feel so good and realize the impact it has on people that have special needs.”
Last year, Beeler attended the Bocce Ball competition, which helps to include people with special needs in athletics. Special Olympics partners with Kinkaid each year to put on the event.
Bocce Ball, a highly recognized community service event on campus, is planned by Ms. Kacie Horton, the Upper School director of service learning.
One of this year’s priorities was monitoring the weather because the event last year took place in the beginning of fall when the heat was a dominant issue.
“We were thinking of moving it inside. We met with the grounds team, but ultimately decided it was not going to work because of the matting for the floor,” Ms. Horton said.
She said planning begins at the conclusion of the prior year’s event where she and the community service council members discuss various issues that arose during the competition.
Although Bocce ball is scheduled to run outdoors, the event planners are continuing to monitor the weather. The event runs from morning to night with two different shifts with around 60 student volunteers.
“I really loved helping with bocce ball because it was so fun and a great way to get involved in the community,” Beeler said.
While Kinkaid is the host of the community service event, not only Kinkaid students sign up to volunteer. The event registration is also open to anyone who would like to give back to the community. The Special Olympics chairs want students to volunteer through their website as well, believing it would be easier to monitor the Kinkaid sign ups along with Houston community sign ups.
On the day of the event preparations will be made for the committee and other student volunteers.
“The student volunteers arrive at 7:30 in the morning to help set up the 22 courts and make sure they know all the rules on how to play,” said Abby Woo, one of three chairs of the community service committee.
This year’s Bocce Ball event will help people with disabilities and special needs qualify for the 2024 Paralympics in Los Angeles.
“There’s a welcoming ceremony for them that involves passing of the torch, singing the national anthem, and walking under the arch while the volunteers observe and cheer them on,” Woo said.
