Nov 30, 2017 3 min read

It was all fun and games in the Wash High gym Thursday morning.

Life Skills students from nine regional high schools converged there for the third annual “Holiday Minute to Win It Challenge,” a series of innovative games that mostly foster camaraderie and prompt decibels of laughter, miles of smiles and an occasional tear of joy.

“I don’t know who enjoys this more, the kids participating or the students and adults who are running this,” said Michelle Kasula-Engle, supervisor of special education for Washington School District.

Washington is part of a 20-school partnership called S.T.A.R.S., an acronym for Schools Together with Athletes Reaching Success. The program’s objective is to organize athletic and social events for students with and without physical and intellectual disabilities, while encouraging teamwork and the building of friendships with students from other districts.

Jamie Frazier, a Washington Life Skills teacher and an organizer of “Holiday Minute,” said about 120 students participated. They came from nine districts, including three in Washington County: Washington, McGuffey and Belle Vernon Area. The others are in Allegheny County: South Fayette, Upper St. Clair, Avonworth, Baldwin, Elizabeth Forward and Montour.

Buses from a few districts arrived after the scheduled 9:30 start, probably due to the 7 a.m. crash on Interstate 79 near Southpointe that snarled traffic for more than two hours.

All 27 of Washington’s Life Skills students, regardless of grade level, played the games. Only high schoolers – grades nine through 12 – from the other eight districts participated.

Organizers set up 17 games on and around the gym floor and established teams of six, made up of students from various districts. When everyone on a team was finished, the group advanced to another station.

Hoops, the non-basketball variety, were used at several stations – to toss onto a stick, over an inflatable dog’s head. There was cornhole, a fishing game and other creative challenges.

Twins Santana and Montana Byrd, Washington seventh-graders, proved to be hoop experts at their first station. Both were accomplished at tossing them onto and catching them with a stick, and had a rollicking good time. They weren’t the only top-flight competitors, but regardless of success in their play, all participants appeared to enjoy the proceedings.

A holiday atmosphere served as a backdrop, with seasonal songs playing. Santa and Mrs. Claus sat on the sideline near the midcourt line, available for photos with students and non-students.

Frazier said the S.T.A.R.S. program is in its third year, and sprouted from modest roots. It began with the Life Skills programs at two districts – Baldwin and Elizabeth Forward – organizing events that brought their students together.

She said there are about 10 to 15 S.T.A.R.S. events each school year, which include dances, games and a prom in May.

“We see what the kids like and go with that,” Frazier said. “We’ll change or add things.”

She paused minutes before the “Holiday Minute” began, listening to the excited voices, saw the beaming faces and smiled.

“The kids love it because their friends from school are here, and they’re friends with kids from other school districts. They get excited. They cheer each other on. They’re having fun.”

It was game day in the gym.