Festus holds inaugural all-inclusive track meet

The Festus R-6 School District held its first-ever districtwide Play Unified track meet on April 15 in the Festus High School stadium. Students of all abilities in kindergarten through ninth grade participated in the 50-yard dash, long jump, softball throw and a relay race. The Festus Fire Department provided a giant flag, and the athletes celebrated their victories with popsicles at the meet’s end.

“It went very smoothly. We’ve had lots of feedback from parents,” said Kevin Pope, the district’s coordinator of communications and special projects. “Teachers said they hadn’t seen so many smiles in a long time. And the kids were already excited to get back and do it again next year.”

The Festus High Student Council spearheads the Play Unified program, which brings together students of all abilities to take part in all-inclusive activities.

Special Olympics of Missouri recently named Festus High School a Play Unified Champion Banner School, the only school in the state with the designation and one of just 36 in the U.S.

Susan Stegeman, president and CEO of Special Olympics Missouri, was on hand for the April 15 event at Festus.

“This was actually the first Play Unified event she had been to,” Pope said. “She thought it was fantastic.”

Student Council adviser Jeff Kopp emceed the event, and Festus R-6 teachers and staff helped the Student Council run the track meet, which promoted social inclusion through sports.

“The goal is for kids with disabilities and those without disabilities to play together and learn they’re not that different,” senior class president Maison King said.

Over the past several years, the school has held several Play Unified games, with more planned.

“It helps kids see their similarities while they celebrate their differences,” Pope said. “But then, the differences melt away when everybody is having fun together

“We want to make sure our student body is inclusive of all abilities. And if they are being welcoming here at school, it will trickle down into their families and the community at large.”