SHENANDOAH JUNCTION -- The third annual Jefferson County Schools Special Needs Field Day was held at Jefferson High School on Saturday.

The event was organized by members of the Jefferson High School Shenandoah Chapter of the National Honor Society, including chapter president Samantha Ogden, service committee chairperson Scott Leonard and Travis Jenkins. They were assisted by Jefferson County Schools Parent and Educator Resource Coordinator Haley Kern.

"This is the third year that we've had it. Its origins go back to a young lady named Sophie Stuart -- a student here at Jefferson High School who had helped at field days and different events at her former elementary school. She noticed that not all of the students were participating in the same way. There were some students who were more reserved and held back a little bit," Kern said. "She wanted to do something that was for children with special needs, that would provide all of the accommodations that would make them have full access and the support in place they would need, to be able to compete and have fun."

Kern noted that she worked together with Stuart to found the event, with their focus on designing every aspect of it to meet the potential needs of the students who might attend it. With this in mind, they decided to have three separate areas set up for students to enjoy: a game area in the school's main gym, featuring various blow up games borrowed from Jefferson County Parks and Recreation; a play area in the school's auxiliary gym, with activities like face painting, sensory bottles, play dough, coloring and bowling; and a sensory tent in the school's lobby, equipped with noise cancelling headphones and comforting items.

The field day was also separated into two different times, to accommodate the differences related to age: students in kindergarten through grade five were scheduled for the first two hours in the afternoon, followed by a second two-hour period for students in grades six through 12.

"It's a lot of fun. It's great to see how much we can help out the community and how many families come and enjoy it," Ogden said. "We want to create a place where the community can come -- not just for the kids, but for the parents as well -- to get to know other parents and families in the area that are experiencing the same kind of challenges as them. It definitely provides them with a network of people that they can come and talk to. And the kids obviously enjoy it, as well, which is great."

A secondary intention, behind the organization of this year's event, was to ensure it would be a place where the siblings of the students it was intended for, could also come and have a fun time, according to Kern.

"Everything is family-inclusive, because sometimes it can be difficult for parents to decide what to do, when their children need different things," Kern, who spent over 20 years as a special education teacher, said. "We always include siblings, moms and dads -- and if grandparents want to come, that's fine too -- because they deserve to have activities that they can do together."

One such family was that of Summit Point resident Angelena Milburn, who brought her two daughters -- Charles Town Middle School eight grader Savannah Hargis and South Jefferson Elementary School third grader Betheny Cooper -- for the first time to the field day.

"It gives them the chance to get their energy out and interact more with other children, in a safe environment," Milburn said, mentioning her youngest daughter struggles with a personality disorder. "They liked playing with the play dough and the sand. They liked the magnetic blocks. And, of course, they loved the face painting -- anything to draw on themselves, they love!"

According to Leonard, the event was a success.

"It turned out really well," Leonard, who is in his first year as a member of the chapter, said. "The beach balls, in particular, were a big hit -- that was something they had last year, that Travis recommended we bring back. Some of the kids spent the entire time just playing with them!"

For Jenkins, the big win at this year's field day, was the reception it received from the families in attendance.

"The families are so grateful. They're very happy to be here and that their children can be included in something. Their gratitude is worth everything," Jenkins, who will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in the fall, said. "The fact that it means so much to them, means it's worth it to me."