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The Canadien Champion, Tues'day, April 18, 20016 - BI Board's Special Olympics basketball game cornes north TtD BROWN / SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION AIRBORNE: The Toronto Raplors mascot, The Raptor, f lies over Halton Catholic District School Board Director of Education Lau Piovesan for a slamn dunk during the Hoops for Ail event in Georgetown. Individual Pu ~~ Retirement Compensi 6«it,peakn - SENIOR VICE PIRE with Gordon B. La Actuarles & Finc This informafion s.ssio Iusinu Ow,,.,s who a IPP - Learn how ta con thon the maximum ~lI RCA - Learn bow toalol This is the highest level of a MILTON SENIORI 50Childs Wednesday,I 7:00 pm il Rot reshments Admission is fre., however Caîl John Barreit ai Propert y i/ dy tdmïonln Maner SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION Not even the energetic Toronto Rapturs' mascut could take the spot- light away [ront somte enthusiastic young athietes at a recent basketball game in Georgetown. Eighty-stx special-needs children in the Halton Catholic District School Board took part in the third annua1 'Hoops For Ail' Special Olympics gaine of hoops ai St. Catharine of Alexandria Elemientary School. Organizers kept score but the real intent of the contest was to make sure ail athîcies received equal playing tîme, which was quite a challenge consider- ing the large number of players on each squad. The game between the IlaIton Raptors and the Haltun Raptor Busters was an opportunity for the students tu have fun, be part of a team and demon- strate the board's philosophy of 'incluý- sive education." Each Special Olymptan was paired up with a mentor athlete - someone within a schuul whu's recugnized as a student leader - and they spent quali- ty time tugether on and off the court. 1i just wanted tu get une basket and Ive already dune îhat, su it's time for everyune tu have sume [un," said grade 6 student Patnick Sequeira of Muther Teresa in Oakville, which hosted the inaugural event. 1I have a baskethall court at home, su 1 gel to play a lut. 1 still have the video [romt the (Huups Fur AIl) ftrst year tu watch sumettmes." ?nsion Plan & ntion Plan*Agreement vo'l P. Pafl MA, 11.8 SIDENT & COUNSEL ng & Associaies Inc. incial Consultants n Is of qp.ci Iint~rs to *muxing oMd bheir lItSP, itribute up to 60% more allowable RRSP limits w for larger contributions retirement product in Canada ACTIVITY CENTRE Room )rive, Milton Aay 3rd, 2006 0 9:00 Pm & Light Snacks iimited seating is avaouable. 05-878-3822 Ext. 250. DMMUNITY NIM& 9ACLgVM assistant at Muther Teresa, satd she'd like tu, see mure events like Huups Fur Ail and the Spectal Olympics Turch Run su that students like Sequeira dun't unly benefit îhemselves, but su that they can cuntnibute lu the schoul cum- muntty as well. "Patrick's a very verbal and social kid and bas nu trouble makîng friends," said Csernyei. "He's a great supporter and very enthustastic wiîb the other kids, and he was really guud îoday telling the new students at the game what tu expect." Held in the south end of Halton [ur the [trst twu editions of Huops Fur AIl, thîs year's event was shifted nurth by organizers and a cruwded, loud gymna- sium greeted the athletes. As wel as the benefît of physîcal exercise, the game serves as a conhidence-builder for the Special Olympians and helps them gain acceptance amungsî their classmates. The gym erupîed in cheers when St. Catherine of Alexandria's own Alyssa Lumanna wheeled uut ontu the court with her mentur, Michelle Seedhuuse, pushing ber chair. "l'm leavtng it ail up tu Michelle. She dues the bard wurk. I jusi need tu gel the hall in the basket," said Lumanna, a grade 7 student, whu bas cerebral palsy "1 have knuwn Michelle since kinder- garten and she's my best [niend. We du ..iNNINIm iinin i jîil iN ii hall together'also." Alyssa's muther, Sandie, bas nuticed the difference in ber daugbter's self- cunfidence, suciability and impruve- ment in ber schoulwurk because u[ her invulvement Aith athletics. "She's really luving schuul this year," said Lumanna. "Having the uther kids' suppurt is really nice. She can pick up the phone if she gets stock witb ber humewurk and ask, 'Michelle, 1 need yuur help.' Its heen amazing." Tracey Newman, an educational assistant at St. Catherine uf Alexandria, said that initially, Lumanna's [ear u[ being bit in the head with, the basket- hall was caustng ber lu hesitate, but a[ter that, buîb the 12-year-uld's strength and dexterity grew tu, the puint where she tuuk up anotber sport - wrestling. "One uf the challenges [or any spe- cial-needs child is lu have the same invulvement that every other child bas the ability lu do,' Newman expîained. "Her classmates are [antastie for incîud- ing Alyssa with wbaîever they're duing and when she's included in everyune else's actîvities, il refleets in the rest of ber sebuol luad." Mentur-athlete Adriel Cedenu uf St. Mark's in Burlîngtun said it's very rewarding lu pass un sume tips and -see RAPTOR on page B2 POOL OPMNING SEMINAR fluesday, April lUth, 200,6 @ 7:30 pm 84S MaIn Stmoa East Mlfte. (acmass from the GO station) tips and procodures on sommrlzing your pool etroublesootamg anmd water cave e valuabl Infonuatio for now and oxpoencad pool oanrs & Dm Prim e Rftubuwmts e Whats mw feir 2M0 FU ip 3ul ûp 1JU *5 àI1L 1z l'y à rf M-fA a Vi .17 i. --lký