Hundreds of students had a blast on Friday when West Forsyth High School invited them out to a kickball tournament for exceptional students.
Busloads of EC students from 12 campuses throughout the county arrived at the West Forsyth softball field and were greeted with applause from adoring fans. Then, they took turns taking the field to show off their kickball skills while their classmates, teachers, and newfound friends cheered them on. WS/FCS prides itself on inclusiveness, and the tournament was a great way to make everyone involved feel welcomed and respected.
“It’s always good to have a day when we can all come together and cheer for each other,” said Transition Coordinator Catherine Gage.
The tournament was open to students enrolled in Occupational Course of Study (OCS) and Extended Content Standards (ECS) curriculum. To graduate, these programs require that students participate in 600 hours of community instruction activities that build skills like social interaction and networking, and the tournament allowed them to gain experience in those areas.
“It’s a really valuable experience for them,” said Carter High School Teacher Assistant Jana Goldsmith-Powell. “It makes them feel important.”
As a Unified School, West Forsyth frequently collaborates with the Special Olympics to bring inclusive sporting events to their campus. Sports have a unique ability to create bonds between people who may have never met before, as well as to empower them by developing new skills. There’s an observable passion among the student body for creating athletic experiences that everyone can enjoy, and that community spirit showed through in a field full of smiling faces.
“EC students don’t always get treated the same way like they deserve, so it’s important for us to make them feel included,” said West Forsyth Senior Ryan Warman. “It feels really good to be a part of something like this.”