EAST PROVIDENCE — Whiteknact Elementary School last week hosted what was planned as the first annual “Best Buddies Field Day” on campus celebrating the interaction of students with their peers from the special education population.

The day featured games and activities for Kindergarten-fifth grade special education students and their Best Buddies in grades 3-5 from Whiteknact along with the K-1 special education students from Francis and Orlo elementary schools. In addition, East Providence High School students volunteered to help run the field day.

Whiteknact Elementary School has been a chapter member of the Best Buddies organization for three years. In May, Whiteknact was awarded the “Outstanding Elementary School Chapter in Massachusetts & Rhode Island” by the organization

“We hope by bringing together other schools in our district to our first annual Best Buddies Field Day, we can encourage more inclusion based activities and friendships, where a lifetime of memories will be made,” said Lisa McKinnon, a special education teacher at Whiteknact.

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com staff photographer Rich Dionne shot the accompanying gallery of photos.