On Friday January 23rd, The Cushman School will welcome athletes from Special Olympics, Miami Dade County, to its campus to participate in the much-loved Blue & White Day event. These quarterly competitions are a highlight of Cushman’s unique physical education program that engage all students in a friendly, all-inclusion sports activities designed to build school spirit, sportsmanship and camaraderie among the diverse student body. The festive days also encourage teamwork and a healthy lifestyle, while giving everyone the chance to ‘come out and play!’
“Participation in athletics is empowering. These impressive athletes are a great example of using sports to overcome certain challenges,” says Pablo Gentile, Cushman’s Director of Athletics. Arvi Balseiro, Head of The Cushman School, adds, “we raise Miami’s children in partnership and provide a venue for camaraderie so they can reach their personal goals.”
As a kick-off to Friday's Blue and White Day, Special Olympics Miami Dade County Global Messenger and Athlete Leader, Andy Miyares, will start the event at 8:15 a.m. by discussing overcoming obstacles and his accomplishments as a record-breaking world champion athlete. Cushman parents are then invited to join their children, who will be participating with more Special Olympics athletes, as they enjoy a variety of games to promote acceptance and inclusion.
“Having Andy Miyares participate in Blue and White Day is also a great way to encourage our unified sports initiatives,” say Andrew Savysky, a Cushman parent, Chairman of Development for Special Olympics Miami Dade County and President of 123 Lump Sum, a prominent supporter of the organization. “By encouraging sportsmanship among athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, we hope to continue to raise awareness about this amazing organization.”
The Publix Torch Icon Campaign runs until January 21st throughout the County and is a major fundraiser for the organization across 3 States, coordinated by Publix and Proctor & Gamble. By purchasing your very own paper torch with P&G Coupons at the Publix check-out register for $1, $3, $5 or $10, you can support local Special Olympics athletes in Miami-Dade County!
About The Cushman School: Named for Dr. Laura Cushman, its founder, The Cushman School is Miami-Dade’s oldest continuously operating private school that offers a holistic approach to education. Established in 1924, the 90-year-old school consists of a charming mix of renovated and new buildings spread across a beautifully landscaped campus in a historic pocket of international Miami at 60th Street and Biscayne Blvd. The non-denominational school offers a challenging academic environment for a diverse population of approx. 500 students from preschool through eighth grade. Cushman is known for its rich traditional heritage and a culture of camaraderie and warmth. The schools offers rigorous academics, state-of-the-art technology, innovative performing arts programming, daily physical education, unique global studies exposure and many exciting field trips built into an ever-evolving curriculum.
About Special Olympics: Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
