Throughout campus, there are many ways to earn your PE credit, but one particular physical education class called Partners PE does things a little differently.

“So this class is all about creating experiences for both the general education and the SPED kids,” Partner’s PE Coach Khera Vay said. “So, just the creativity allows them to do things that are different outside of what we would normally do.” 

While one of the main components of Partner’s PE is to attend and compete in the special olympics, before students do so, they first practice to become prepared for their upcoming competitions. Right before their official bowling practice in a bowling facility, this week students got to partake in a different kind of bowling practice in the dark.

“There are glow sticks and bowling pins and we put stickers on our bowling balls,” senior Ronan Sturtz said. 

For senior Peyton Vargus, this experience allows for special need students to get out of their comfort zone and experience change. 

“I think glow-in-the-dark bowling is a really cool concept and really fun idea for them to do because it’s something different,” Vargus said. “I think that change can be sometimes scary for people. So I think especially for them, it’s really good to incorporate change into fun activities.”

According to sophomore, Jeremiah Sedgwick, having a mentor like Partner’s PE coach, Khera Vay, allows for a more exciting experience in practice.

“I’m so glad that Coach Vay is one of those fun coaches,” Sedgwick said. “I can do whatever I want. Like in the elementary school or the middle school. That’s one of my favorite coaches.”

While this exercise proved to bring joy to the gym, Vay creates every game and activity for a purpose.

“Glow in the dark bowling just created an opportunity for some differentiation and an environment that they’re not used to,” Vay said. “So it might have created some challenges for some of them because the lights were off.”

This story was originally published on Wingspan on September 18, 2024.