November Impact on Inclusion Award: Heber Springs Middle School
November's Impact on Inclusion award winner is Heber Springs Middle School and their UCS Liaison, Carrie Willis, submitted this story about how they are implementing inclusion in their school.
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We are thrilled to be a Special Olympics Unified Champion School® for the first time this year! Each month, we meet with our Partner's Club to brainstorm ideas that can engage the entire school community. In November, we hosted a 6th-grade dance and provided a "sensory room" as a quiet space for students needing a break from the dance floor—it was a big hit with our 6th graders. Our Partner's Club members have also started joining our adaptive PE and music classes on Thursdays and Fridays, and everyone is enjoying the experience! We had our last middle school pep rally and made sure to include students with all ability levels and the stands went wild!
This month, we’ll be presenting Partner's Club and Special Olympics Arkansas at the District Board Meeting, with several Unified partners, athletes, and parents set to speak.
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In addition to Heber Springs Middle School's implementation of inclusion in their school, their liaison also submitted how UCS has impacted her! Carrie says, "The most meaningful moment for me this month was watching my new Unified partners learn to understand the unique ways our athletes communicate. Many had never interacted with students who "speak" differently than they do, so it was incredible to see both athletes and Unified partners showing patience and a genuine interest in building real, meaningful connections. Witnessing these authentic interactions has truly been a joy."
About Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®:
The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change in K–12 schools and across college campuses. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance. These are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions.
If you would like your school to get involved with Unified Champion Schools, reach out to Jennifer Edwards.
____________________
We are thrilled to be a Special Olympics Unified Champion School® for the first time this year! Each month, we meet with our Partner's Club to brainstorm ideas that can engage the entire school community. In November, we hosted a 6th-grade dance and provided a "sensory room" as a quiet space for students needing a break from the dance floor—it was a big hit with our 6th graders. Our Partner's Club members have also started joining our adaptive PE and music classes on Thursdays and Fridays, and everyone is enjoying the experience! We had our last middle school pep rally and made sure to include students with all ability levels and the stands went wild!
This month, we’ll be presenting Partner's Club and Special Olympics Arkansas at the District Board Meeting, with several Unified partners, athletes, and parents set to speak.
_____________________
In addition to Heber Springs Middle School's implementation of inclusion in their school, their liaison also submitted how UCS has impacted her! Carrie says, "The most meaningful moment for me this month was watching my new Unified partners learn to understand the unique ways our athletes communicate. Many had never interacted with students who "speak" differently than they do, so it was incredible to see both athletes and Unified partners showing patience and a genuine interest in building real, meaningful connections. Witnessing these authentic interactions has truly been a joy."
About Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®:
The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change in K–12 schools and across college campuses. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance. These are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions.
If you would like your school to get involved with Unified Champion Schools, reach out to Jennifer Edwards.
Published November 2024
