SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.Va. -- Jefferson County Schools held its first-ever Special Needs Field Day thanks to a Jefferson High School senior. Sophie Stuart said that as she volunteered at field day events across the school district last year, she noticed that not all students could participate.
"The special needs students didn't have games that were designed for them," Stuart said.
That experience motivated her to work with the Jefferson County School's Parent Educator Resource Coordinator (PERC) Haley Kern to create a field day specifically designed to meet the needs of those students.
"When I became NHS (National Honor Society) President, I realized I wanted to do something big before I graduated," she said.
Stuart collaborated with JCS students and staff to create the event for students with special needs. She designed the games to be fun and accessible regardless of a student's physical or cognitive abilities. The day was split into two shifts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Student volunteers staffed the event that happened on April 22.
"There were more than 50 students there helping and I think those students had as much if not more fun than the students participating," Stuart said.
Stuart hopes the event becomes a tradition.