October Newsletter - Unified Champion Schools

October - National Bullying

Prevention Awareness Month

We are so excited that your school has joined the inclusion revolution, and we can’t wait to continue the school year with Whole School Engagement activities, Inclusive Youth Leadership opportunities, and Unified Sports. Each year, we grow and strengthen our program. This year we will be communicating with our schools via this Constant Contact email service.

Component 1:

Whole School Engagement

This month, we celebrated Unity Day as part of Fall Inclusion Week (October 19-22). We congratulate all participating schools in their creativity, dedication and Inclusive Youth Leadership on this notable campaign. We saw so many great Whole School Engagements such as giant paper chains, artwork, Unity rocks and gardens, aerial group photos, inclusion signage, morning news pieces, and respect trees.

Schools that have recently joined the Unified Champion Schools program will have an opportunity to implement this campaign on a date of their choosing.

Join the Race for Inclusion, Special Olympics Florida’s newest challenge to build a world of inclusion and acceptance. It's not a campaign; it’s a revolution...a battle against the isolation and injustices faced by people with intellectual disabilities. It’s a call for respect and understanding. As part of Whole School Engagement, we encourage Unified Champion Schools to participate at a series of race events across Florida October 30 - December 18. You're invited to start or join a team, register to participate or sign up to volunteer! Several Unified Champion Schools like the Special Olympics College Club at the University of Florida and Pine View School have already joined the revolution. Please use this toolkit to help us spread the word!

Find a race near you!

Component 2:

Inclusive Youth Leadership

Great news! Tavares Middle School won 4th place in the national Fall Inclusion Week competition and Southwest Miami High School was recognized for their excellence!

Congratulations to the 30 Special Olympics Florida Unified Champion Schools for participating in these fun online challenges driven by Inclusive Youth Leaders! Unified partners, athletes and faculty worked together to get active, creative, and learn leadership skills such as public speaking, motivation and decision making.

Component 3: Unified Sports

FHSAA Flag Football - Kathleen High School enjoyed a game with Vero Beach High School this month, complete with Whole School Engagement activities! Check out their event video.

FHSAA Bowling - Homestead Senior High School earned first place in the FHSAA Bowling Regionals on October 13. Six teams are competing at the FHSAA Bowling State Championships on November 4.

FHSAA Basketball - We are currently accepting registrations and rosters for the upcoming competitive FHSAA Basketball season. The first competition is tentatively scheduled for November 20-21 in Tavares.

Enrollment in Young Athletes, Little ELITES, Rising Stars and competitive Unified Sports is open! Contact us to start your required inclusive sports component. We have school-based programming for every grade level.