The OCS students will kick off the start of fall with a kickball tournament hosted by OCS teacher Heather Fix on Friday, October 4. The tournament will take place at the softball field and will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This program has organized basketball tournaments throughout previous years at West, but this year they’re trying something new by hosting a tournament.
“This is the first year that we’ve [OCS students] had kickball, so it’ll be interesting to see if they like it, then we’ll continue to do it.” OCS teacher Heather Fix said.
Occupational Course of Study (OCS), a program offered at West, is a trial to a diploma where students are taught vocationally, meaning they attend jobs and learn the basics, rather than academically. In this program, students are put off campus and are trained in places such as Food Lion and McDonalds. Once they’re good at their position, the students get hired.
“The occupational courses study is a pathway to diploma and you work on vocational skills more than academic skills. So you still get a regular diploma, you’re just focusing on work and vocational skills.” OCS teacher Heather Fix said.
Like the previous years, with the helping hand of the Unified Sports Special Olympics, the OCS students have the opportunity to practice their social skills, come together as a whole, get off campus and try new things.
“Our school is a partner with the Special Olympics, but to keep that up, we have to participate in some school-related activities with regular ed-students and special education students. So, we create this activity so all the groups from every school can come together and they can participate in the activities they can get off campus, they can practice their social skills, they can communicate with each other, meet new friends.” OCS teacher Heather Fix said.
In this tournament, OCS students from different schools in Forsyth county are playing against the students here at West Forsyth. Whichever school comes out on top, wins a trophy
“I am very excited and confident about this game. I am also really excited to try out kickball,” sophomore Angelina Argano said.
While teachers are regulating and making sure everything runs smoothly, students who are taking PE classes will be helping out as well. There will be 11 different activity buses from different schools with students who are under the OCS program coming to this event, so they expect around 200 guests to show up.
“I am excited to participate in this event because I have two cousins who [have disabilities] and I help them with their needs and everything in their life. What’s also exciting is that the kids don’t really have as many opportunities to do anything like this, so I am glad that I’m helping out,” senior Ava Warren said.
This kickball game is sure to be an exciting event for everyone attending, as well as the Titans stopping by to cheer on the OCS students.
