Students from Wangaratta District Specialist School are enjoying their bowling in new ways with the support of Sporting Schools this term. Teacher Ryan Hargreaves reports that students want to learn to bowl for sport every day!
Keen to support their local centre, Wangaratta Supa Bowl, and allow students to have the opportunity for an excursion was something the school sees tremendous value in. “To bowl in the real and authentic environment of a tenpin bowling centre, where there’s lights and sound, live scoring, and all equipment provided; is a big drawcard for schools wanting to offer more than mainstream sports to their students” mentioned national Sporting Schools manager for Tenpin Bowling Australia, Emily Rennes. The Wangaratta District students are accompanied by their teachers to the centre and enjoy quality instruction by registered Tenpin Bowling Australia and Sporting Schools coach Ben Woodford.
Centre Manager David Lowe loves seeing students having a ball and particularly applauds his coach’s interactions, “he is amazing, being on the spectrum, he related very well!”. In addition, the school has used the recently launched Special Olympics Australia Sporting Schools resources, developed in partnership with Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT) and Tenpin Bowling Australia.
These resources include a visual schedule, communication cards, visual story and other tenpin modifications to ensure students have an enjoyable learn to bowl experience in addition to using the modifications available in-centre. “They love the lights, get very excited when they bowl a strike, and have so much fun” said teacher Ryan Hargreaves. Students with a range of abilities access the ramps, bumpers and lane lights to help guide their ball to the pins.
All teachers, support staff and coaches, including Lane Rangers (of Bowl Patrol and Bowl Abilities) are encouraged to seek out Special Olympics Australia’s online learning resources.
