ROCK HILL, S.C. — Friday was a day to celebrate the children in Rock Hill Schools' Exceptional Students program with a day of outdoor fun at the Special Olympics.
The district hosted track and field events for the students at Cherry Park. About 350 students were able to enjoy the sunshine, play games, and be celebrated by both their schools and supportive community members.
"As a principal, there's no way in the world I wouldn't be here," said Clayton Moton, principal of Dutchman Creek Middle School. "The energy, the love -- all of that is representative of who we are here at Rock Hill Schools and in the greater Area 11 community. This is always a marquee event and that's why you see so many people here."
Shaquena McLaughlin is the Executive Director for Exceptional Student Education with the district. She said the Special Olympics on Friday saw a wide range of students partake.
"We have students participating from all of our self-contained classrooms, and that ranges from [students with] autism to intellectual disabilities, but they are all here participating," she said. "This is a great opportunity for our students to be a part of the community. That's one of the skills that we really like for them to have, for them to learn to function in everyday society. This allows them to be around peers just like them so that they are able to participate.
Maya Harmon has a son who attended Friday's festivities. She told WCNC Charlotte that the sense of community is strong at the Special Olympics.
"The kids get to come out, feel special, do things and be active," she said. "He gets to interact as well with other kids that are like him."
"We look forward to this event every year," McLaughlin said. "Our kids look forward to it. It is a great time for them to come together and play some games, and that is the most important part."