Invitational Field Day: Everyone walks away a winner

--- Published on April 26th 2019 ---
FILED UNDER:
News & Alerts
Runners on the starting line at Natomas HIgh

Much more than an athletic competition, Invitational Field Day brought hundreds of local students with special needs to Natomas High today to promote abilities, not disabilities, and to send everyone a clear message that they’re all winners.

Today’s warm weather contributed to a feel-good, party-like atmosphere, with music blaring from loudspeakers.

A heartwarming annual event, Invitational Field Day also hopes to build bridges between students with special needs and more than 550 able-bodied Natomas High youth who volunteered to be “buddies” for a day – pushing wheelchairs, cheering, escorting, or doing whatever necessary to help.

Today’s schedule of events included relay races, long jump, Frisbee toss, Hula Hoop, softball throw, (foam) javelin toss, buddy relay races, and bean bag toss. A wheelchair race and obstacle course was planned as well.

Top finishers received first- and second-place ribbons, while all other competitors received third-place ribbons. Participation medals were awarded as well. Nobody walked away with nothing.

Schools from the Twin Rivers, Center, Western Placer Unified, Folsom Cordova, and Woodland school districts joined NUSD for today’s event.

Festivities kicked off with a parade of all competitors, led by the Natomas High School Marching Band, around the school’s quarter-mile track.

Tommy, 14, had a one-word answer when asked what he expected to get from today’s competition: “Fun.”

“Make new friends, have good memories, get prizes,” added Zaria, 16.

“It’s fun to get everyone together – I’m very happy,” said Felicity, who will graduate next month from the Adult Transition Program, which teaches independent living skills at Natomas High.

Nighthawk volunteers said they enjoy Invitational Field Day, too.

“I just wanted to help people out,” said Briana.

Fifteen-year-old Arianna echoed that sentiment, saying, “I feel good volunteering to be here.”

Participation in Invitational Field Day has more than doubled since the event was launched several years ago at Natomas High, largely by Kim Taxara and Stacy Hickel, NUSD staffers who assist students with challenges throughout the school year.