This year’s Special Ed Basketball game was a huge success, and filled the gym to capacity. Eristheo Raif, a Special Education assistant at the school, said “I’ve never seen the basketball gym that full, I even heard that there were a couple of classes waiting outside who couldn’t get in.”
Matthew Gallavis, who is a captain of Eagle Rock’s team, agreed that the game was “a really good experience.” He enjoys being captain because he gets to instruct his teammates; “It’s a really fun thing for me because I really enjoy telling people how to do this and that.” The crowd’s energy especially encouraged him. “I look at them, and they’re all cheering… It makes me feel more confident when scoring.” While the most rewarding part of the game for Kimberly Castillo, another player, was helping her teammates to win and passing the ball.
Motivated by his enjoyment of working with the students and an understanding that capturing the game was something special, Eristheo Raif (previously mentioned) captured the entire event on camera. Raif asserts that he’s “a photographer first before a videographer,” and in all his work aims to capture “daily life routines and lifestyle.” The video (above) captures the energy of the event and communicates to the public the significance of this moment.
Coach Jesse Ramirez, who’s another Special Education assistant, noted that “A lot of our kids don’t stay after school for clubs or sports, they don’t go to dances… This is their chance to represent their school and do their thing.” This experience allows students in special education to be cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd. Ramirez added “Scoring a basket in the gym when you’re just playing is no big deal. Scoring a basket in the gym when it’s packed and [everyone’s] there cheering you on and the crowd explodes” is a whole other level. Ramirez states that “them getting that recognition” is “what it’s all about.” He notes that “this is our one time that our staff can show the rest of the school that we’re here and that we exist.”
“I’m really proud of them,” Coach Ramirez says, “because from not knowing how to dribble or shoot a basketball to getting out there and playing, that’s why I do what I do.” This season marks Ramirez’s 10th year coaching these basketball games, and the team has gotten as close as the city championships. However, for the past couple of years, the championship tournament has no longer been receiving district funding. So, even though, as Ramirez notes, “we have a really good team, so we could’ve had a chance to advance” the team isn’t able to advance any further.
Most of the athletes from this event participate in Coach Joseph Martinez’s (Eagle Rock’s Adapted PE Teacher) classes. The students participating spent 6 weeks practicing their skills every day leading up to the season.
This year is Martinez’s second year organizing the event, and he says that the “love and support” for our athletes shown by the student body makes the coordination of the game an enjoyable experience. Coach Martinez added, “The athletes make everything easy for me because they love to play and be active and be given a chance to showcase their skills.” The process of setting up the event has gotten easier each year, thanks to the support system at the school and the ever-increasing collaboration between staff. Behind the scenes, Ms. Laura Orellena, the supervisor for special education assistants, made sure that word about the game got out to teachers and the cheer and choir coaches, and the PE department assured that the gym was ready for the athletes.
As Special Education Teacher Leo McLaughlin expressed, this year’s basketball game has brought the ERHS community closer together. Actively celebrating all parts of our school and community is incredibly important, allowing more and more students to be celebrated by our community.
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