Daniel Prince
Apr 28, 2023
Elementary, middle, and high school students enjoy their modified field day
The Union County School District held the 2nd annual Jacket Games last Friday, April 21, at Union County High School. Jacket Games is a modified field day event for self-contained students from the district’s elementary and middle schools and high school. They participated in sports events such as tennis, soccer, volleyball, kickball, and cheerleading. UCHS students volunteered at each station.
Jacket Games began with the presentation of the colors by the UCHS JROTC color guard, and the National Anthem was played by the UCHS Sting Machine Band. UCHS head football coach Coach Thompson led students in a pep rally and encouraged students to have fun and show good sportsmanship. Students then began their rotations at each of the stations.
Teachers and coaches from across the district assisted students with each station. UCHS agriculture teacher Ashley Dill and her students set up the Jacket Village with games like Mega Connect Four, Jenga, and checkers. Coach Seth Whitehead and the UCHS tennis team taught students tennis skills. Sims cheerleading coach Tiffany Littlejohn taught cheers in the cheerleading station. Cara Phillips helped students in the volleyball station. Heather Barnado DJ’d at the Jacket Village. Coach Mike McGee helped with the parachute and kickball station. Brian Larimer helped at the soccer station. Jon Langenfeld taught football skills. The UCSD Technology Department was there, as Tim Barnado, Travis Black, Randall Eubanks, and Paul Wells recorded drone footage and helped with the sound systems and all technology issues. Erin Simmons helped with drawing maps and other behind-the-scenes work to help organize the event.
Adaptive PE Coach for Union County Schools, Coach Sydney Lawson, made this entire event possible. Lawson said, “This event is one of my favorite parts of my job. It’s a day of fun for everyone, including the teachers, and allows my students to demonstrate all their capabilities. I love having all my students in one place and watching them interact with our awesome UCHS student volunteers. It’s a lot of work, but I have an amazing team of people helping make it possible for our students.”
The district gives special thanks to all the student volunteers, tennis team, teachers, assistants, bus drivers, and parents for making this another amazing event. They thank Crisp and Sons for making the shirts, and they thank local businesses for their generous donations: Kendall Austin Roofing and Construction, Union County Recycling, Paradise Home Center, WBCU, Junior Civitan, KJ’s Market, The Miracle League of Union County, USC Union Bantams, RELI Carriers, Trophies of Union, Junior Charity League of Union County, Austin Rehab of Union, Smith/s Jewelry Store, and The Fairest Fit.