LYNN — The weather could have been a little better, but the smiles could not have been any bigger.
The 56th Lynn Special Games at Manning Field on Wednesday featured 480 Lynn Public Schools students, more than 250 teachers, paraprofessionals and volunteers, administrators, and elected officials. As students arrived at the stadium, they walked through a human tunnel of applause.
The event was coordinated by the Lynn Public Schools special education department, Rotary Club of Lynn, and DPW Associate Commissioner Lisa Nerich, who also runs the Lynn Special Needs Camp in the summer. In addition to Rotary Club members, there were volunteers from the Lynn Police Department, Lynn Fire Department, Lynn English JROTC, and participating sponsors.
The students participated in a variety of events, including cornhole, basketball, bean bag toss, and hula hoop, and had a variety of bounce houses to choose from. There was a concession stand, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, all at no charge.
Sponsors of the event included: Reading Cooperative Bank, McGrath Enterprises, King Movers and Storage, Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, Cultura Latina Dance Academy, Weld Management Co., Columbia Insurance Agency, K Security Systems, David J. Solimine Funeral Services, St. Jean’s Credit Union, Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development, Newhall Real Estate, NRT Bus Inc., Capano & McGloin, LLP, Lynn Teachers Union – Local 1037, EZ Landscaping, Lynn Department of Community Development, Lynn Disability Commission, and Eastern Bank.
“This is an amazing day,” Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said. “We are a district and a city that goes out of our way to create moments of inclusion, belonging, and joy. It brings us pride to see you compete.”
Superintendent of Schools Molly Cohen encouraged attendees to look around the stadium to see all the people who were there to support the students. “We are one community,” she said, “all here to celebrate belonging. We are a district fiercely committed to equity for all students – both in and out of the classroom. Events like this demonstrate that commitment in a vibrant, beautiful way.”
Christina Collela, LPS director of special education, said staging the event requires months of planning and a true team effort.
“We start working on it in January,” she said. “Lisa (Nerich) does a ton of work, and Stacey Pena (assistant director of special education) leads the charge on our end. Our teachers and paraprofessionals really support it. The kids have so much fun, and this is an amazing location for it.”
