Jack Mendelsohn | The Chronicle
Mia Centofoni, Hanna Schaedig, Ella Pocisk and Emma Garrett pose at Mason Magic Practice
When Mason Magic performs, it is more than flips and chants; it is inclusion. Mason Magic is an organization that brings together cheerleaders and students with special needs from both Mason Middle School (MMS) and Mason High School (MHS), showing what teamwork should truly look like.
Each week, cheerleaders alongside their Mason Magic partners practice cheers, stunts and dances. The practices are full of fun and encouragement as everyone works together, spreading school spirit and inclusion. Mason magic can be found performing on the sidelines at events like basketball games, showing off their routines and cheering together for their school. MHS senior and cheerleader Chloe Smith said seeing the connections built through Mason Magic has been the most rewarding experience.
“Sometimes the girls will run up to some of us in the hallway, which is really cool [that they] see us as more of a friend rather than just a cheer partner,” Smith said. “It really does brighten everyone’s day when you have a friend running up to you to talk with.”
Mason Magic not only allows the cheerleaders to volunteer to help practice and teach cheers, but it also builds meaningful relationships and encourages them to grow as a team. Smith said she believes that their most important role is to be open to help whoever may need it.
“A lot of the time, they can get a little nervous or worked up,” Smith said. “We have learned that the best way to make it easier for them is to help talk them through it. Just offering some support is enough to build confidence in someone.”
Mason Magic is organized by MHS and MMS teachers Jill Arminio and Colleen Johansen. Arminio said they were enthusiastic about having such an important role in Mason Magic and finding out they would be funded.
“We instantly jumped on the bandwagon,” Arminio said. “Our first goal was to ensure that there would be no cost to the families, and once we knew that was going to happen, we began planning.”For the students participating in Mason Magic, this program offers them a chance to shine, make friends and be involved in school. Arminio and Johansen both said that Mason Magic’s first performances during both the MMS and MHS pep rallies showed them how important their club is.
Pictured left to right back row: Bella Brewer, Lori Wright, Abby Conyers, Josey Heyman, Brianna Hermansen, Rayna Archer, Carrie Patrick, Kate Buckley, Althea Lakes, Caroline Hauck, Molly Benham, Cali Ashurst, Rachel Wilburn, Ella Grebe, Addie Wilson, Molly Martinsen, Emma Garrett, Mia Centofanti, Libby Pullen, Avery Scarpa, Macy Harris, Lilly Cote, Anna Monley, Chloe Smith. Pictured left to right front row: Caitlin Kelly, Arlynn Rapin, Manjot Kaur, Venice Edell, Aleena Ghohestani, Morgan Massa, Ella Pocisk, Hannah Schaedig, McKenna Jefferson
“When they performed in front of the entire school that day, everyone cheered and celebrated with them,” Arminio said. “It was amazing. We loved seeing how happy it made them, along with all the other students and teachers watching.”
Seeing Mason Magic’s impact during the pep rallies prompted Arminio and Johansen to consider the future of the program. Johansen said that no matter who leads Mason Magic, she and Arminio hope that it will remain a successful club and keep providing students a place to have fun.
“Our mission is to continue to get the club out there and continue the collaboration between our high school and middle school cheerleaders with Mason Magic,” Johansen said. “We want to ensure it continues to grow so that students with special needs have an amazing club to be a part of.”
Arminio and Johansen both said that the club’s true impact is based on the relationships it fosters. Students with special needs, alongside the cheerleaders, learn how to support one another and build confidence.
“What’s important is that everyone has the opportunity to shine,” Johansen said. “Everybody matters. We want to give everyone the chance to be the best version of themselves, whether it’s one of the performers or even people sitting in the audience.”
