![Sophomore Lily Bell posing as a player in the senior assassin game. Seniors participating in the game eliminate others by squirting them with a water gun, and can wear goggles for immunity against others. “People did have to go out and buy [water] guns, but most people have the googles at home, but you don’t even have to use a gun, you can use water of any sort,” senior Gwyn Christensen said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-1-1-900x1200.jpg)
![The shadows against a captivating blue are a nod to the “Catch Me If You Can” musical poster, both for this performance and the blue from the Broadway show. The detectives in this scene are at shooting practice, in preparation for when they finally encounter Frank Abagnale Jr. “We always say our motto is ‘theater is a team sport,’ and really just emphasizing to our students that everyone is welcome in the drama department. There's always a role for you, whether or not, on stage or behind the scenes, in the costume shop, in the scene shop. [There are] all sorts of different things that go into bringing a show to life. So we love our drama hawks and welcome everyone to drama,” Drama Director Mollie Jo Blahunka said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/cmiyc-1200x800.jpg)
![Henry, Emily (2021). People we meet on vacation [Book cover]. Berkley Books. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. Haley, Brett (2026). People we meet on vacation [Movie poster]. Movie poster courtesy of 3000 Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment. Made by Adilyn Hoop using Canva.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/vacay1.png)
![Lockhart, E. (2025). We fell apart [Book cover]. Delacorte Press. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. The newest book in the “We were liars” collection was released Nov. 4.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/wefell1.png)
![A Group of PEOPEL PE students and helpers set up an obstacle course during class. The “Amazing Race” unit had started in PEOPEL PE where the students and helpers got to compete in a variety of different activities and games. “We try our best to make [inclusion] a school-wide event, but it's just so much more different when you actually engage with the students hands-on and actually get to know them as people.” Sophomore Bree Christensen said. Photo Taken by Ada McNulty.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-12-1200x900.jpg)
Inclusion week at Ankeny included dress-up days and different activities related to spreading inclusion. Unified basketball took place on March 12, where Ankeny brought a team of students with and without disabilities, and they were able to participate in a game of basketball at the Casey’s Center. Special Olympics occurred on April 15, where students came to Ankeny’s track and participated in a variety of track and other events adapted to their engagement level.
“Inclusion means creating an environment where everyone, regardless of their disability, feels like they belong,” AHS physical education teacher Ashley McCoy said.
McCoy is the PEOPEL PE teacher and is the coordinator for inclusion-related activities at AHS. PEOPEL PE is a physical education class for students with special needs that gives them the opportunity to engage in activities tailored to their abilities. It also allows them to create friendships with those who are neurotypical.
“PEOPEL PE is just a great way to talk to new people that you probably wouldn’t cross paths with before and really get to grow and learn in these friendships that you get with students,” junior Ellie Klipping, a PEOPEL PE helper, said. PEOPEL PE helpers are neurotypical students apart of the class who go in and help guide the other students through the class.
PEOPEL PE offers a variety of events outside of class for students with disabilities that are more fitting for their level of engagement, like unified sports. Ankeny currently has three unified sports teams: track, basketball, and soccer.
“Just adding sports gives kids opportunities to do something they love in an environment where they can be successful,” McCoy said.
Unified basketball was an event where both those with disabilities and those without could play basketball. It allowed for lots of teamwork and communication to happen, while having an encouraging and supportive environment.
“I was on the unified basketball team, and it really just showcased how different abilities can be used, even through sports,” PEOPEL PE helper and player for the unified basketball team, sophomore Bree Christensen said.
Some students say there is still room for improvement in how inclusion is practiced at AHS. During Inclusion Week, students signed a pledge to end the use of the R-word, though some say negative language is still used.
“I think some students overall could make a difference, because I know lots of people are still saying things that aren’t kind to students that do have special needs,” Klipping said, “but we just have to make sure that they know that it’s not okay to do that.”
There are some areas of improvement for Ankeny when it comes to inclusion from the school’s part, but students who are already involved would also like to see broader participation from other students at AHS.
“I wish it were something our whole school participated in,” Christensen said. “I really think it could make an impact on how we treat those students and how we treat each other.”
