Wheaton High School held its first Unified Field Day on May 23 in honor of Sarah Gilbert, a former Learning for Independence (LFI) student who unexpectedly passed away last summer. The event was named Gilbert Games in her honor. The event was planned and executed by Wheaton High School staff members in conjunction with Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy and Springbrook and Wheaton high schools. More than 100 students from all four schools attended.
Leadership students coached students from the LFI program, which is designed for students with complex learning and cognitive needs, including mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, and the School Community-based (SCB) programs, which includes students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and/or multiple disabilities. Students from the extensions program, which is a program that includes students with the same disabilities in need of additional behavioral support, also participated.
After an opening ceremony that included a parade of athletes, students competed in a variety of track and field events, according to the level of ability and adaptations. They included: wheelchair obstacle races, 25- and 50-meter walk; 25-, 50- and 100-yard dash, and 4×100 relay; long jump, softball throw, frisbee throw and pool noodle javelin.
