By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – Parkview Middle School students were welcomed by cool temperatures Friday, May 17, when the third annual Jaguar Quad was held at Goelz Field and surrounding areas.
The Jaguar Quad is modeled after the Goody Triathlon, in which area students recently participated in Pulaski, by pairing up students with special needs with student mentors.
The students participated in a one-mile run, biking around the Goelz Field track and swimming in the Ashwaubenon Community Pool before lunch with pizza and then playing kickball.
Vanessa Talus, a special education teacher at Parkview and one of the event organizers, said the Jaguar Quad involves the middle school’s Peer Mentor Program, in which students with special needs pair up with student mentor leaders.
“It’s a great day to celebrate everything we’ve been doing together all year long,” she said.
Talus said the Jaguar Quad, which more than 100 students participated in this year, helps boost the self-esteem and confidence of students with disabilities.
“It makes them feel like a part of something,” she said. “A lot of these kids have never been in a race or have never got to participate in something like this. At the end of the event they each get a medal, so that makes them feel really good. As for our mentors, it shows the great leaderships skills that they have, and they have a lot of fun. Both of them have a lot of fun.”
Parkview Principal Kris Hucek said the Jaquar Quad “went off without a hitch” because of the efforts of Talus and physical education teacher Kerry Janquart in organizing the event.
Hucek said students involved in the Peer Mentor Program receive training throughout the year with Jaguar Quad being a culmination of the group’s efforts.
Lakshman Mallekla, an Ashwaubenon High School freshman who has been a mentor for three years, said the Jaguar Quad makes it possible for the mentees to “have friends and just have fun.”
Kendal Janquart, an AHS freshman who has been a mentor for four years, said the Jaguar Quad makes it possible for those with or without disabilities to come together and have fun.
“It’s just a great time,” he said. “It teaches many lessons about life.”
Aidan Averberck, an AHS freshman who has been a mentor for two years, said the Jaguar Quad helps both the mentors and mentees become better people.
“It doesn’t matter who’s who,” he said. “You’re just here to have a fun time.”
Parkview seventh-graders Ava Gerend and Ella Senger also found the Jaguar Quad to be a fun experience as they worked with seventh-grader Amara Myers.
“It’s been really fun with all my good friends,” Myers said. “It’s a really fun experience.”
