Varied sports offerings for Arcadia and St. John Baptist students

SBO Arcadia and SO/VSO St. Jan Baptist from Kerkrade have started after-school sports activities. The schools are supported by the regional consultant of Iedereen Kan Sporten Parkstad. Basketball is the first sport in which students can participate. The lessons are led by basketball club Titans from Kerkrade. From March 8, 10 and 21, the sports on offer will be expanded to include resilience training (judo and self-defense), dance and sports and games, respectively. Bijzonder in Beweging and Only Friends provide the classes.

Surveys conducted by Arcadia and St. John Baptist among parents show a great need for the after-school sports activities. Participation in the sports is voluntary. Students have one month to try out a sport for free if it suits him/her. After that, membership fees will be charged. Transportation must be paid for from the beginning. The Jeugdfonds Sport Limburg pays the contribution for children and young people from families where there is not enough money to play sports. By the way, children from other special education schools are welcome to join the after-school sports classes.

Transportation well arranged

Education Alderman Jo Schlangen: "My compliments to the cooperating parties who have succeeded in putting together a varied range of sports. The special thing about this cooperation is that transportation back home has been organized, with the exception of basketball on late Friday afternoons. So parents do not have to go through all the hoops to get their children to play sports, now that transportation is well arranged. Furthermore, the after-school sports activities fit perfectly with the philosophy of Vie - Living on the Move, which is nice." 

They also match the ambitions of the Sportakkoord Kerkrade to support children with disabilities and their parents towards sports and exercise. Because that is not always obvious for children with disabilities. They must be able to exercise sufficiently and become acquainted with a wide range of sports. The ultimate goal is to eventually allow them, if possible, to move on to regular sports clubs.