Shepard rallies for Respect Week

By Kelly White

Each year, schools across Illinois celebrate Respect Week. This campaign focuses on inclusion for people with disabilities, celebrating Respect for All – no matter the disability, gender, or race.

Shepard High School students proudly took part in the week-long celebration that derived from the Spread the Word Campaign.

“Plunging is an opportunity to embrace the cold to show how whole-heartedly you support those you are plunging for,” Gianna Spain, 18, of Palos Heights, said. “Respect should not be determined by what you look like on the outside, but how kindhearted you are on the inside. One of the kindest actions is also the most simple-respect one another.”

Respect Week has become part of the culture at Shepard and it is widely celebrated all over Illinois through the school’s partnership with Special Olympics Illinois. They send out many ideas and resources and it is up to each school to decide how they want to celebrate annually.

Shepard High School students pledged on a banner at the school, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, to respect other during Respect Week.

Each year, Shepard celebrates at the high school, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, with a week of spirit days, festivities, raffles, a banner signing in the cafeteria where students pledge to respect all and concludes with the Polar Plunge by the school’s POWER Plungers.

“I love Respect Week because it highlights all of the wonderful students and programs that we have here at Shepard,” Ashley Lythberg, Special Education Teacher and Shepard Special Olympics Coordinator, said.

The school’s POWER PE stands for Physical Opportunities with Exceptional Rewards. In this program, students apply to work as mentors for their peers with disabilities in the physical education setting.

“We have been celebrating Respect Week for seven years. The staff in the special programs and the students in our POWER PE program work together to organize spirit days, promote our messages, decorate hallways and provide opportunities for all students to participate,” Lythberg said.

The school celebrated with Respect-themed spirit days through the week of Monday, March 7, through Friday, March 11. These days included: We are POWERed by Respect: Dress like a superhero; Shine BRIGHT with Respect: Wear neon or tie-dye; The World Runs on Respect: Go Green; Ride the WAVE of Respect: and Dress Hawaiian.

The hallways were also decorated by special programs and POWER PE students, daily announcements were made, and after school ‘Respect-a-Palooza’ was held, along with the POWER PE’s Polar Plunge on Thursday on the Shepard football field. This year’s POWER PE team raised nearly $10,000 for Special Olympics.

Highlighting the event was a banner signing pledge which took place Wednesday during lunch periods. The pledge was to respect.

“Through Respect Week, students are given the opportunity to learn more about each other and celebrate the inclusive community we have here at Shepard,” Lythberg said. “They have several opportunities to get involved, support Special Olympics and find ways to make Shepard more inclusive for all students.”

Shepard also offers Unified Soccer, Special Olympics Basketball and Unified Track & Field, and Lythberg said this is also a great way to highlight and celebrate those athletes as well.

“My favorite thing about respect week is seeing how the whole school participates,” Calah Strohacker, 17, of Worth, said. “I love that more people participate in order to support such an amazing cause. It warms my heart seeing how much everyone cares about including all and respecting all especially because I feel like you don’t hear enough about these positive interactions. Lastly this year I am super excited to be able to actually plunge because last year we had to plunge at home.”