MOUNT GREENWOOD — High fives were all around Tuesday morning at the eighth-annual Special Sports Outing at George F. Cassell Fine Arts School in Mount Greenwood.
Athletes with physical and mental disabilities from Cassell as well as Mount Greenwood Elementary School and the Keller Regional Gifted Center all participated in the outdoor events.
"It's a time where they can be together and see each other from different schools," said Tom Markel, the physical education teacher at Cassell.
He has been organizing the event since its inception and said 45 athletes from the three public schools in Mount Greenwood participated this year. After the non-competitive outing, everyone received a medal and was treated to a pizza lunch.
Peggy Lanigan teaches fifth- through eighth-grade students at Mount Greenwood School. It's her fifth year participating in the neighborhood sports outing, and she said her students look forward to the annual event.
"It's great team building," Lanigan said.
She said many of the students know each other from participating in the Special Olympics Chicago chapter that operates out of Mount Greenwood Park. Still, she said it's good for them to meet in a different setting as well as introduce themselves to new friends.
"They deserve a special day," Lanigan said.
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