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Media Minute – Girls’ School of Austin and TSBVI

Media Minute Physical Education Community

Two adolescents under a jumbo parachute in a gymnasium. One holds up a section with a finger.

In the fall of 2012, TSBVI became neighbors with The Girls’ School of Austin (GSA) when a campus renovation caused GSA to move temporarily to a local church which sits adjacent to the TSBVI campus. GSA PE Coach Jenny Sparks, was looking for a place for her students to have PE classes, and she approached TSBVI Principal Miles Fain and now retired TSBVI PE Coach Elina Mullen. The PE departments of the two schools created a partnership that brings students in the fourth grade from GSA to TSBVI for weekly joint PE classes with TSBVI students in the Elementary grades. This collaboration has been going strong for over 10 years! Hundreds of students have learned to gain trust, awareness, and how to work with each one’s specific needs. Enjoy this Media Minute, which documents our special relationship.

Through movement and play, and repeated exposure and practice, students and educators from TSBVI and GSA are learning the benefits of being in an integrated environment. When asked what they think about the program between our schools, a GSA student remarked, “It’s really fun getting to know all the people at TSBVI and doing all activities with them. I really like walking on the track in the indoor gym.” Another student said, “I really like being with other people that are different than me and I like looking at what they use that I don’t use and I like that we can both do the same thing.”  Peers learn they are more similar than different. They learn patience and how to help each other, and they learn to break down barriers. A parent of a current fourth grade GSA student shared,

I appreciate that this experience isn’t a one-time experience, that the GSA kids are able to create relationships with the kids at this school here, which I think makes it so much more meaningful. It’s different from their daily lives. They’re able to develop that kind of comfort level week after week and get to know these kids and their personalities and their interests and make friends with them, create a friendship. They look forward to it so much, the GSA girls, they really look forward to coming.

In addition to adapted physical education routines, TSBVI and GSA students celebrate special activities together throughout the school year. Every December, students from both schools participate in a “Winter Games” lesson that incorporates community service as students assemble care packages to donate to individuals in need. They navigate on scooters to decorate small Christmas trees, participate in throwing games with foam snowballs, and ice skate on frisbees!

Students from both schools get opportunities to tour each other’s classrooms and campus spaces. During Halloween, TSBVI students visit the GSA campus for a spooky, multi-sensory obstacle course. GSA hosts a Valentine’s Day dance. Students go on field trips together to a local ice skating rink and bowling alley.

While only fourth grade GSA students can participate in the weekly PE classes, older GSA students up to eighth grade are able to revisit their friendships with TSBVI students by returning for annual events such as swim meets, White Cane Day, the Turkey Trot Duo Dash, Jingle Bell Run, and the Jump for Heart American Heart Association fundraiser.

Fourth graders at GSA do a project called, “Brave Starts Here” and one student selected the joint PE class experience with TSBVI. She shared her reasoning, “I think that it was really brave for my class and their class to step out of their comfort zone and interact with each other. It took a lot of courage.” One of her interview questions was, “How did you feel after being at TSBVI for a while?” Her peer responded, “Well, I learned that people, even if they’re not the same as you and even if you’re not the same as them, it doesn’t really mean that you’re not equal.”

GSA Coach Jenny says this experience really changed her life, “It has impacted all of the students and their families for the better.” She shares advice for other general education PE teachers to look for opportunities to create inclusive activities through collaboration with other professionals working with students with visual impairments.