COMMUNITY: Poly students discuss the purpose behind Super Bowl for Kids and reflect on its impact.
By Kate Santoso, Staff Writer
On the morning of January 28, spirits were high and hearts were light as Poly’s cheer and song squad, varsity football team, marching band and Associated Student Body (ASB) gathered on the field to host the second annual Super Bowl for Kids. Brought to Poly’s campus by Principal Dr. Michael Roe, Super Bowl for Kids is an event for special education students from Riverside that allows them to experience playing football and scoring touchdowns. In regards to the production, ASB President Mae Johnson (12) stated, “I think it’s fantastic that Poly is able to reach out to these kids and give them an experience that so many kids may never be able to have.”
Roe organized the first Super Bowl for Kids last year, and due to its success, decided to host the event for a second year. The former high schools which Roe oversaw, Tahquitz and West Valley, put on a similar event, but he knew Poly would be able to take the event to the next level. As opposed to last year’s Super Bowl for Kids, which only featured middle and high school students, this year’s event invited special education students from RUSD elementary schools to experience the excitement. Roe, Poly’s special education advisor Lisa Miller and varsity football coach Dennis Brown, along with other stakeholders, wanted to make sure the younger students had the opportunity to participate as well.
In the weeks leading up to the event, many of Poly’s clubs and organizations put a lot of effort into its preparation. Marching band practiced vigorously in order to perfect their fight song, which was played as each child made a touchdown. Poly ASB created and posted paper football cutouts featuring each participating child’s name and hung encouraging signs around the field. In addition, they sent out invites to neighboring elementary schools and set up the large inflatable bear on the field for the kids to run through.With a football in hand, children made their way to the end zone with the help of Poly’s varsity football team. “As football players, we get to score touchdowns all the time, and [the children] don’t get to do that so it made them feel special and it made me feel special too,” Poly football player Alejandro Quintero (10) said.
With upbeat music provided by the marching band, chants of encouragement from cheer, song and the crowd, decorations made by ASB and the support from football, every child succeeded in making their touchdown. “It truly warms my heart to see students reach out and commit to being in service of others,” Roe said. Although it is not certain, it is likely that the Super Bowl for Kids will make its annual return in 2016, and perhaps in years to come.