Teachers Erik Dellasanta and Brendan McNabb share a high five after taking their plunge. (Courtesy North Middlesex Regional School District) 
Teacher Caleb Chew goes for a belly flopper as he jumps into Bear Force One alongside of Teacher Michael Chew. (Courtesy North Middlesex Regional School District) 
Teacher Alyson Palmer jumped dressed as Santa while Teacher Jen Hannon dressed as a reindeer. (Courtesy North Middlesex Regional School District) 
Chase Faulds holds a plaque recognizing that he secured more pledges than any other jumper. (Courtesy North Middlesex Regional School District) 
Gateway Teacher Maddie Brooks and Chase Faulds were first to take the plunge since Chase earned more pledges for Special Olympics than any other jumper. (Courtesy North Middlesex Regional School District) 
Students Lucas Eibye and Griffin Valikangas take the plunge. (Courtesy North Middlesex Regional School District) 
Teachers Shannon Belanger and Mandy Connor took the plunge together. (Courtesy North Middlesex Regional School District)
TOWNSEND – Superintendent Brad Morgan is pleased to share that students from all grade levels in the North Middlesex Regional School District participated in a mobile polar plunge to raise funds for Special Olympics Massachusetts.
Approximately 90 students at all six District schools participated in the polar plunge, which was made possible by the Special Olympics of Massachusetts mobile polar plunge truck, known as Bear Force One.
The district was able to raise approximately $10,600, all of which will go to Special Olympics of Massachusetts.
North Middlesex Regional High School has been recognized as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School due to its robust Unified Sports programs, which next year are being expanded to include a Unified Strength and Conditioning program. Varnum Brook, Nissitissit, and Squannacook Schools are also Unified Champion Schools.
Coaches and students from the North Middlesex Regional High School Unified Sports Program organized the polar plunge to demonstrate the school’s support for Special Olympics Massachusetts.
Students and staff could take the plunge in exchange for raising at least $25 in pledges. Bear Force One includes its own pool that participants jumped in to earn their pledges.
The Uncle Joey’s Cannolli’s and Tacos y Burritos Panchita food trucks served up goodies at the event, and donated proceeds directly to the North Middlesex Unified programs and to the Annual Special Olympics Game day for the North Middlesex School District.
This year’s Annual Special Olympics Game will be held on Friday, May 3, at the high school.
“This was a great event, and I was pleased to see how many of our students and staff took the plunge to support Special Olympics of Massachusetts,” said Superintendent Morgan. “Our Unified Sports Program continues to grow, as does our support for Special Olympics and all of the lives that it touches.”