Red Cedar Elementary hosted a polar plunge fundraiser on Feb. 11 to raise money for the Michigan Special Olympics. The event was open to all students and staff of East Lansing Public Schools.
As stated by their website, the Michigan Special Olympics is a program in which children and adults with intellectual disabilities can compete in winter, fall and summer games. Participants can progress from the local games to the state, national and international level.
According to paraprofessional Bracy McClanahan, about 20 people involved with LINKS at the high school made the plunge, along with Superintendent Dori Leyko. One of the participants was Noa Wildeboer (11), who was excited to participate in the event.
“I don’t really like the cold that much, but I think it’ll be fun,” Wildeboer said beforehand.
The event occurred on the property of Red Cedar Elementary, with high schoolers and staff plunging from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and elementary schoolers jumping from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Red Cedar special education teacher Chelsea Wheeler organized the event. She is the point person for the Unified Schools Initiative at Red Cedar Elementary, which fosters inclusivity at schools. When she was at a conference for the program last summer, she heard about other schools having successful polar plunges. This was what first caused her interest in hosting a polar plunge.
According to Wheeler, each person who participated in the plunge was encouraged to raise at least $50.
Additionally, as part of an initiative called Cool School Polar Plunge, presented by the Michigan Law Enforcement Torch Run, schools that raise a certain amount of money for the Michigan Special Olympics receive some money in return for their Unified Schools programs.
“I thought, let’s try that,” Wheeler said. “We could always use more money.”
So, Wheeler submitted an application to host a polar plunge and found out that Red Cedar had been selected in November.
According to the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge website, many other Michigan schools are participating in the Cool School Polar Plunge initiative this winter, including the Haslett school district, the Grand Blanc school district and Charlotte High School. As of Feb. 9, Cool School Polar Plunges have raised
over $74,000.
Wheeler was excited going into the event, hoping it would foster more engagement in Unified activities.
“I myself am a graduate of East Lansing, and I think giving back to our schools and having it be more inclusive and unified is the best school we could have,” Wheeler said. “I’m excited to build that.”
According to Wheeler, 60 people jumped and raised over $8,000 throughout the course of the day.
