Wasilla High School hockey players skate with local special education students

WASILLA — Wasilla High School hockey players recently skated with local special education students at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena, sharing plenty of smiles and fond memories to look back on.

“It was great. We had a good time. It was a good day,” Mat-Su Borough School District adaptive Physical education teacher Ben Condon said.

According to Condon, three schools participated in the student skating event Friday, Jan. 28. Special education students from WHS, Redington Junior/Senior High School, and Houston High School sat comfortably as student hockey players pushed them around the rink. He said the event was “a lot of fun with a lot of smiles” all around.

“It’s great for both kids. For the special education students, it’s a great socialization piece. They can learn how to be active with their friends and kids their own age. It’s really good for our gen-ed kids too. That’s something where they can take a step back and work with someone and see them advance and see them get better. It’s also something they can write down on their resume. That’s another experience that they can write down to make them much more valuable at their next stage of life,” Condon said.

This recent skating excursion is part of the district’s adaptive P.E. program. Condon said they engage in weekly community recreation activities such as bowling, skiing, and hiking across the Valley.

“We decided a long time ago that community recreation was something we needed to work with these students on, and show them what’s in their community and show them how to be successful with these activities,” Condon said. “Just really trying to get them involved in their neighborhood and be successful, and when they’re out of school, the idea is hopefully they’ll still come out to these places and still be active.”

Condon noted that multiple schools across the district have participated in the adaptive P.E program, readily offering aid from students, staff, and parents at these community events. He said that Wasilla Middle School and WHS have been particularly steady and helpful at their various functions. He said that WHS students bought pizza for the special education students after the skate event.

“There’s a lot of great participation but I just to emphasize that Wasilla High School and Wasilla Middle School are always in attendance and they’re always supportive,” Condon said.

Like all other student bodies across the district, the special education program has had its fair share of challenges in and around the pandemic. Condon said they’ve been working to make the most of the situation and having support from local businesses and groups across the Valley has greatly aided their overall efforts providing safe, healthy, fun environments for their students to grow in.

“They know what we’re doing. We’re trying to get some kids out and to be active in the community. Everybody kinda helps out. It’s great to see people coming together. It’s just kind of a little family with our community recreation group,” Condon said.

Condon said that he feels lucky to have the opportunity to teach in the district. He said the work is fun as it is rewarding.

“I just love my job because my job is to have fun,” Condon said with a laugh. “They’ve taught me how to be patient and just put a smile on during hard times. It makes me want to be a better person and do the best I can for those kids on that day.”

Condon said they have numerous activities planned for the rest of the school year, including a snowshoeing trip at the Government Peak Recreation Area. He said that parents and family members are always welcome to join.

For more information about MSBSD student support services, visit matsuk12.us/Page/27248.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com