Special Olympics screenings help students become participants
Philanthropy from personal experience CMS employee Avice Pretty helps those in need
This year , Butler High student Jeffrey Sanchez will be participating in the Special Olympics North Carolina for the first time — thanks to a free MedFest screening event recently offered by the organization in partnership with Carolinas HealthCare Systems . MedFest is a Special Olympics initiative combining health and outreach , helping athletes who have difficulty getting to a doctor to obtain their valid and current medical forms to participate .
More than 22 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Special Olympic athletes , ages eight and up , attended the screenings to become eligible for three years . “ I ’ m going to play bocce . It ’ s like bowling ,” said Jeffrey . “ It ’ s hard but it ’ s fun . I ’ ve been practicing a lot and I ’ ll be able to compete soon .”
Butler parent Sandy Hutchins , who accompanied her son to the screening , was thankful that it was being offered . Hutchins said her son looks forward to being part of the Special Olympics every year . She has seen his social skills improve and his confidence increase as a result .
“ Instead of making a separate doctor appointment for him , we were able to come here with many of his teammates ,” said Hutchins . “ My son has participated in the Special Olympics for many years . He ’ s competed in basketball , soccer , bowling and ice skating . He loves it and our entire family looks forward to it .”
Fifty-five volunteers from Carolinas Rehabilitation and throughout Carolinas HealthCare System screened more than 200 CMS athletes . The screenings included measuring height , weight , blood pressure , body-mass index and a vision test .
Randolph Middle teacher Kim Glass said it was great to be able to tell parents that they could have their children screened .
” Parents have a lot going on and if we can help them with this one thing , I ’ m all for it ,” said Glass . “ I want my students to be able to participate . It ’ s great for the entire school because our students practice with typical peers . It ’ s a way to really unite the school community .”
Kelly Merkl , the Special Olympics North Carolina youth initiatives director , said this was the second time the organization had hosted MedFest .
“ We received great feedback from the prior year so we wanted to continue to provide this service with the help of CHS ,” said Merkl . “ We are very happy to see that more schools signed up and that more athletes attended .”
Participating high schools were West Mecklenburg , Garinger , North Mecklenburg , Rocky River , Harding , Hopewell , Mallard Creek and Butler . Participating middle schools were Northridge , Northeast , Ranson , Whitewater and Randolph . Participating elementary schools were Huntersville , Winget Park , Selwyn , Croft Community School , Lawrence Orr , Albermarle Road and Oakhurst STEAM Academy . The Exceptional Children School Metro also participated .
Bruns Academy teacher wins I am CMS award Jazzy Goode nominated by colleagues
Jazzi Goode from Bruns Academy is the latest teacher to win an I am CMS award .
Superintendent Ann Clark presented her with the award on Nov . 4 . Goode received a $ 100 Visa gift card from award sponsor Charles G . Monnett & Associates and will be professionally photographed for an I am CMS poster that will be displayed at Bruns Academy .
In her nomination form , her colleagues praised her focus on children .
“ Not only does she build strong relationships with scholars , she takes everything she learns about them and uses it toward designing some of the most engaging lessons that I ’ ve ever seen to support their various learning styles ,” wrote one of her colleagues . “ When her scholars are with her learning , they feel empowered , supported and , most importantly , they feel loved and invested in .”
For Avice Pretty , there is no one season of giving . She finds ways to help her community all year long .
Hardships can leave a lot of different marks on people . For Pretty , a senior administrative assistant for pre-k-12 curriculum and support programs , personal challenges have been a path to philanthropy .
“ When you see that people need help , you help them ,” she said . “ You roll up your sleeves and get to work .”
Twenty years ago , Pretty moved to Charlotte from her hometown of Sanford , N . C . She was a single mother , battling a serious illness and financial issues .
“ I was a psychology major , so I am pretty good at research ,” said Pretty . “ I started looking up local resources to find out how to bring some stability to my family .”
Today , Pretty is healthy and stable but she hasn ’ t forgotten the earlier hard times .
“ I had a lot of advantages that others don ’ t ,” said Pretty . “ So I wanted to find a way to help others access resources that can help them improve their lives .”
Pretty founded a non-profit , Vision Beyond the Eyes . The organization ’ s goal is to provide skills training , employment opportunities , education and outpatient therapy to homeless men , women and veterans .
“ We want them to be self-sufficient and able to maintain permanent housing ,” said Pretty . “ If they need a resource that we don ’ t have , I will find it .”
When Hurricane Matthew caused flooding in eastern North Carolina , Pretty saw an opportunity to expand the reach of her organization .
“ We ’ re all a community ,” said Pretty . “ Sometimes our community is larger than you think .”
She started collecting donations for the towns of Lumberton and Princeville .
“ They ’ re not showing this on the news , but these towns are still in desperate need ,” said Pretty . “ It ’ s like little Third-World countries there .”
Pretty partnered with CMS ’ central office departments to collect items for flood victims . The budget department collected 600 bottles of water . The After School Enrichment Program ( ASEP ) collected a U-Haul truck full of donations including toiletries , napkins , tissues and lotion .
On Nov . 19 , Pretty and a team of volunteers took 13 cars filled with donations to Lumberton .
“ We are so thankful to CMS employees for the help ,” said Sharon Hunt , Lumberton assistant to the city manager .
Find more information about Vision Beyond the Eyes visit http :// visionbeyondtheeyes . weebly . com .
Parent Teacher Magazine • January / February 2017 • 8