Extra Effort: Unified P.E. Field Day continues to grow, create memories in central Illinois

DUNLAP, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — It was a special day at Dunlap High School Thursday.

Unified P.E. students from all over central Illinois gathered for the Mid-Illini Unified P.E. field day where general students are paired with life skills students and others with special needs for a morning filled with activities, games and fun.

“We have yard games, spike ball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, different games going on today,” said Dunlap Unified P.E. teacher Krysten Wallace. “I’m so excited.”

This area-wide event started two years in Washington and continues to grow. The Mid-Illini schools invited Unified P-E students from Farmington and Peoria Heights this year.

Over 400 athletes and volunteers made up the event which is about 150 more students than were involved in last year’s Field Day, according to Wallace.

“I had numerous (student) athletes reach out and say they wanted to be a part of this,” said Wallace. “It tells me we are doing something right.”

Limestone High School was the first school in the Mid-Illini to put together a Unified P.E. curriculum. Now every school in the conference has Unified P.E. and other schools in the area are doing the same.

“It warms my heart. I’ve been involved in special education and Unified PE throughout my whole high school career,” said Limestone senior Sara Hopwood, a member of the football and basketball cheer teams. “It’s very heartwarming to see all this and how happy it makes them. I love to see them achieve their goals.”

The Unified P.E. students say the Field Day is the highlight of their year.

Zach Rassi/Farmington Unified PE student: “I’m about to play kick ball. It’s my favorite sport,” said Farmington Unified P.E. team member Zach Rassi. “I’m an expert at home runs.”

Charlie Mathews, a Unified P.E. student at Limestone, summed it up.

“We are unified. We are all here. We just play together and have fun,” said Mathews. “That’s what it really is about.”

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