Severna Park High School Prepares For 2026 Plunge

The Cool Schools Plunge, more well-known throughout Severna Park High School (SPHS) simply as the Polar Bear Plunge, is a staple of the high school. Students from all grades work hard to raise the $50 needed to secure their spot in the plunge. For students having trouble fundraising, direct donations of $50 can be made to Special Olympics Maryland. Once that amount is reached, students can attend the event and receive a Polar Bear Plunge sweatshirt.

This year, the Cool Schools Plunge takes place at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis on January 29 for Anne Arundel County schools only from 10:00am to 2:00pm with the plunges occurring at 11:00am, noon and 1:00pm for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and elementary schoolers, respectively.

Donations go directly to Special Olympics Maryland. At SPHS, involvement is not limited to students who plan to take the plunge. Prior to winter break each year, the Student Government Association (SGA) works in tandem with the Key Club to plan the school’s participation in the event and hold a spirit week. That week, students dress in accordance with the themes on each day, and for each student who dresses up, SGA donates $1 to the Polar Bear Plunge.

In addition to the SGA spirit week donations, SGA raises money with a bake sale. As for the Key Club, the committee creates posters, makes slide decks for advisory classes, and plans meetings to share information on how to participate or otherwise get involved.

Since SPHS’ participation in the Cool Schools Plunge is contingent on student organizations, it is the students who run it. Key Club members MaryGrace Blank and Nora Petery are the organizers for the 2026 Plunge committee.

“Ever since I first plunged, which was sophomore year, I really liked it, and I was like, ‘This is such a great thing to be able to help out and do,’” Blank said. “And then it's just an amazing feeling. Like, it's cold, yes, but it's really fun.”

For SPHS students, the Cool Schools Plunge is an all-day event that begins with the plunge and ends with meeting Special Olympics Maryland athletes. Many students register to support a good cause, and they get to spend all day with their friends while doing so.

“I had an awesome time! It was definitely cold, but getting to spend a school day doing something different totally made it worth it,” senior Koa Bushnell said.

Bushnell attended the Polar Bear Plunge for the first time last year after friends convinced her to sign up. She plans to attend the plunge again this year as a senior. “It will be the last time I can participate while I’m still in high school, but also it was eye-opening to be a part of something bigger than just Severna Park High School that is benefiting the Special Olympics,” she said.

As the Cool Schools Plunge draws closer, students are working hard to raise the $50 they each need to participate.

“Yes, it's really cold, but it's really not about that,” Petery said. “Like, a whole community of people come together. I mean, the plunge is literally for 10 seconds. They blow the horn, you jump in, people are crazy, and they go in and out of the water constantly, but you really only need to put a toe in.

“It's all about the money that you've raised and there's games and stuff, and if you're doing it through the school, it's a whole day off school and you're just getting there and you're hanging out with your friends and in the back of your mind, you're like, ‘I did this for a good cause. Like, I feel good about myself.’ And you just become really proud of yourself. So, I think everyone should at least do it once in their life.”