Cayce Elementary held its Unified Day on Wednesday, Sept. 18, offering opportunities for students of different abilities the chance to collaborate, build confidence and inclusion.

Students, teachers and staff also participated in Spirit Week all week long. The week consisted of activewear Monday, team Tuesday, Jurassic Park-themed Wednesday (with the slogan being “inclusion is dino-mite!”), crazy sock day Thursday and cozy day Friday.

Unified Day commenced with a parade for the athletes (students with disabilities) and buddies (students without disabilities) with fellow Griffins showing support and encouragement.

All the students participated in the opening ceremony where they sang the national anthem, the lighting of the torch and all screamed, “let the games begin!”

All athletes, alongside their buddies, played various games, such as football inflatable, volleyball, dino inflatable obstacle course, tennis and ring toss games.

The event ended with eating popcorn, playing parachute and running around the playground.

Athletes from Airport High School and Brookland-Cayce High School also came to the event and assisted with the games.

Ashley Caulder, assistant principal at Cayce Elementary, has helped plan this event since she joined the staff three years ago. Being a former special education teacher, Caulder said she had a personal goal to have Cayce become part of the Special Olympics in South Carolina.

Superintendent Brenda Hafner was present during the event as well as Matt Warren, the deputy superintendent and David McDonald, chief academic and innovation officer.

Students also participated in a poster competition where Warren and McDonald awarded first, second and third place.

The winning class of the poster competition won a pizza party.

Cayce Elementary is planning to host another Unified Day in the spring. Caulder said they want to make this event a whole district event, including all schools, not just Cayce Elementary.