Page 3 - MARCH2022

March 2022
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Page 3
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Frazier and Kiley Kapp; the crews from Plymouth, Holderness and Campton-Thornton Fire-Rescue Departments; both Plymouth and N.H. State Police; Peter Cof- ran of SONH; the PRHS Unified Club, Unified Basketball Team and coaches; the school’s staff and administration; Rob Cormieau, Plymouth Parks and Rec staff, and the PRHS custodial team; Lena MacLean and the video staff; Mrs. DeVost and the PRHS Student Council; participating clubs and athletic teams; and fi- nally to John-Scott Sherburne for donating his photography skills for the afternoon’s event.
On an unseasonably warm 40-degree day in Plymouth, those who signed up to fulfill their com- mitment to the 2022 Penguin Plunge challenge then gathered together to be hosed down by the fire department before racing back inside to dry off and cele- brate their praise-worthy accom- plishments.
Dalphonse said she was very pleased with how well the event went and expressed her own grat- itude to all who not only partici- pated, but lent their support to the cause.
PENGUIN PLUNGE
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two winters where, rather than gathering hundreds of people to- gether for the plunge, participants were asked to raise money, find a source of water then take a dip for SONH.
It was Special Education Coach Danae Dalphonse who got the ball rolling at Plymouth Regional High School this winter. When she approached principal Bruce Parsons with the idea of getting her not only the Unified Sports participants but the entire staff and student body involved in the plunge, he was in full support.
Ten years ago, PRHS began their Unified Sports program with a basketball team. Students both with and without disabilities came together to compete against other teams in the area and the pro- gram was a big success. In 2020 the school developed a winning Unified Soccer Team and they now have a Unified Club, which is quickly rising in popularity among the students.
As word about the Penguin Plunge spread, Dalphonse was able to put together a “flock” of 55 core people who worked to make their first Penguin Plunge a success. Not only did they form teams and reach out to the com- munity for donations, they in- spired staff members to join them as well. PRHS Athletic Director and Wrestling Coach Todd Aus- tin and PRHS Girls Field Hockey Coach created another challenge to see which of them could raise the most money. The bet stated that the loser would have to wear the uniform of the winning coach’s team.
The Plunge began with a school-wide presentation where it was announced that in their very first year PRHS had placed third out of 17 high schools through- out the state by raising a total of $20,217. Also on hand for a spe- cial announcement was retired Newfound Regional High School Athletic Director Peter Cofran who is now Director of Schools’ Unified Activities for SONH. Cof-
PRHS Athletic Director and Wrestling Coach Todd Austin took part in the school’s first ever Special Olympics New Hampshire Penguin Plunge wearing a uniform for the girls hockey team after their coach Ashley Laufenberg gathered more donations than he for the fundraiser.
With local fire departments showering them with their hoses, many students, teachers and staff were willing participants in Plymouth Regional High School’s Penguin Plunge, which raised money for Special Olympics New Hampshire.
Photos Courtesy of John-Scott Sherburne
Principal Bruce Parsons joined the students of PRHS in their first ever Penguin Plunge in support of Special Olympics New Hampshire.
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ran had the pleasure of presenting the school with the new 2020-21 School of Excellence banner, not- ing they are one of the first five schools in New Hampshire this year to be honored for their par- ticipation in Unified Sports.
“In order to earn this recogni- tion, high schools had to demon- strate a commitment of inclusion by meeting the 10 standards of excellence outlined in our state recognition program,” Cofran said.
Also taking part in the presen- tation were school organizations and club who were instrumental in the coordination of the event.
Girls Basketball members Tar- ryn Rhude and Lindsay Miller began by announcing the top team fundraisers in four desig- nated categories. In the “Up to
$200” group, the Macaroni Pen- guins placed first; the Northern Rockhopper Penguins topped the $200-$499 category, and the Royal Penguins captured the $500-$999 category with their fundraising excellence while the Emperor Penguins, made up of coaches at the school, raised more that $1,000.
Within the Coaches category though, AD/Wrestling Coach Todd Austin raised an impressive $2,674 but it was teacher and field hockey coach Ashley Laufenberg who won their side bet when she managed to bring in $3,647 for SONH. Cheers and laughter erupted outside the school when Austin then came out wearing a field hockey uniform in prepara- tion for the plunge.
Other participants in the pre-
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sentations that day were members of the OSSIPEE Wellness Club who announced the winners of their Penguin Plunge Raffle. PRHS Class of 2022 President Megan Metivier and Anna April- liano of the Student Senate also came forward to thank all who had made the first ever Plymouth Penguin Plunge a success. Among those mentioned were School Re- source Officer Jill Bonan; Ryan
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