Burrell’s Unified Bocce team got a fine sendoff from first responders and Bon Air Elementary youngsters while en route to a playoff match Monday at North Allegheny High School.

Their bus was escorted between Lower Burrell and Upper Burrell fire departments, and Lower Burrell police, as it made its way down Leechburg Road. A few special education students and their teachers made signs and cheered the team on as the escort drove past Bon Air Elementary School in Lower Burrell.

“It’s really good for the community,” said Krystal Kuhn, a special education teacher at Bon Air. “You want to support the students.”

Unified Bocce is part of the Special Olympics Interscholastic Unified Sports program. It’s in its third year at Burrell High School.

Success of the program goes beyond wins and losses. Teacher and co-coach Chelsey Kriley said that, throughout the course of the season, there has been a boost in communication, friendship, teamwork and inclusion between life skills students and their peers.

“We see a lot more collaboration and communication among players and partners,” co-coach Sara Schwartz said.

Student Sara Rayburg said being a part of the team has been a great learning experience and she’s formed friendships with students on the team.

“It’s brought us more together,” she said.

Player Logan Sanchez, now in his second year on the team, said he was excited about and surprised at the sendoff.

He said being a part of the team is rewarding.

“It’s all positive stuff — not negative,” Sanchez said.

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