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District 140 Middle Schools Make a Splash for Special Olympics Illinois

  • Posted March 18, 2026
District 140 Middle Schools Make a Splash for Special Olympics Illinois

Students and staff from Grissom and Prairie View middle schools made a big impact this March, raising more than $77,000 for Special Olympics Illinois through their first-ever Cool School Plunge events.

Led by district staff members Chrisie DeCarlo, William Devine, Kathryn Olson, and Darren Persha, more than 200 participants took part in the after-school fundraisers, collecting donations from family and friends in the weeks leading up to the event. The funds raised will support year-round sports training and competition opportunities for Special Olympics Illinois athletes.

“I’m incredibly proud of our students and staff for the way they came together to support Special Olympics Illinois,” said DeCarlo. “It’s a great example of our school community working together to support an important cause.”

A student wearing a patriotic outfit jumps into an inflatable pool, splashing for Cool School Plunge.     Student diving into pool during Polar Plunge event.

Student jumping into inflatable pools filled with water while others watch and stand around them for the Cool School Plunge event.     A student dressed in red, white, and blue jumps into an inflatable pool filled with water, with snow on the ground at the school's cool plunge event.

wo student participate in Cool School Plunge, jumping into inflatable pools, with a crowd watching in the background.     People participate in a polar plunge event, with individuals submerged in inflatable pools while spectators watch.

Two people giving each other a fist pump before jumping into kiddie pools at Polar Plunge     A person in a red shirt splashes in a blue inflatable pool filled with water, surrounded by snow.

A smiling student wearing a wet red t-shirtwith blue and red face paint, holding a striped towel outside in the snow after plunging in Cool School Plunge.     Group of students pose with towels in school commons before Cool School Polar Plunge

Two people are preparing to jump into inflatable pools of water for Cool School Plunge     Two people jumping into inflatable pools filled with water during a winter event, with spectators watching in the background.

 

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