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 The day went very well with all the kids having a
great time while getting out and participating in track events:
relay, hurdles, long jump, softball throw, sprint and long runs.
All events took place on and around the Ralph Gale Field, Elementary
and junior high students competed simultaneous, but separate and
switching locations.
The morning included a snack time following the first
round of rigorous morning events, which was enjoyed by all under the
shade trees on the beautiful sun filled morning.
After the games had been finished, kids enjoyed a pizza party lunch
in the Central School cafeteria, then returned outside to the
Lincoln Junior High ball diamond for a special awards ceremony.
During lunch, a slideshow presentation played showing some great
pictures for the District 27 CATCH Color Splash Run held last
Friday. Over 200 kids participated in that event.
Todd Henry, the principal at Central, said that the day was great
with a very good turnout. He said the Special Education Track Day
had been an ongoing event for several years, but it had begun to
dwindle down.
Special Education teacher Jill Doneghue said Track Day began before
1999. There was some consideration to dropping it after last year.
Doneghue went to Henry and said that she wanted to give the event a
makeover and make it a really fun day for all the kids.
She then went to District 27 Special Education Director Jill Healy
and Healy was on board with all Doneghue’s ideas.
Mr. Henry said the two ladies deserved all the credit
for making it work. Doneghue was the principal organizer of the
event, and Healy made arrangements for the kids to receive special
"2017 Track Day" t-shirts. The district also provided the pizza
party for afterward.
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Henry said this year more than 50 children
participated in the event. He also mentioned that there was a great
team of volunteers on hand to help the kids. With teachers,
volunteers, and students, more than 100 people were out at the LJHS
ball diamond for the track meet.
Doneghue said that the day had gone well. She said that in
organizing the event, she and the other planners wanted to assure
that every child that participated received a "place" in their
respective competitions.
On Monday kids were divided into groups of no more than three or
teams of no more than three that competed against each other. At the
end of the day, in every event a participant placed either first,
second or third.
After lunch, everyone gathered under a shade tree near the ball
diamond for the presentation of awards. Mr. Henry announced the
winners of each event while Ms. Doneghue and two helpers handed out
either a blue, red, or white ribbon to each student.
For the kids participating the awards ceremony was a big deal. While
some would hope to win all blue ribbons, signifying they were the
best, many kids vied to see who would be the first to have at least
one of every color.
With every announcement of a winner, the rest of the kids cheered
and clapped, bringing big smiles to the ribbon recipients.
At the end of the day, Doneghue said that there were to be two very
special awards given out.
The first would be the award for Sportsmanship. That award went to
the student who was fair and helpful and all around a good sport
throughout the competition. The award for sportsmanship was given to
Tristian Anderson. Tristian was very excited to accept a framed
certificate and enjoyed the attention he received from his fellow
athletes.
The second award was to go to the student whom the teachers
determined was the "Most Valuable Participant." Ms. Doneghue said
that when the teachers gathered to discuss who this award would go
to, Lakken McCollister was the first one every teacher said was a
big help throughout the day.
Lakken was called to the front where he was presented not only with
a certificate but also with a special trophy. Again, it was a very
happy athlete who humbly accepted the trophy amidst claps and cheers
from the other students.
[Nila Smith & Jan Youngquist] |
