Morse's very own Adaptive PE teacher, Deidre Fabian, had a vision of expanding Morse High School's inclusiveness. So she did all of the leg work to get Morse High certified as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. And we received the grant and certification. Morse is currently the ONLY high school in SDUSD to receive this certification!
"The Unified Schools Program developed by Special Olympics is designed to promote Unified Sports®, physical activity and health. The program provides classroom and community experiences that reduce bullying and exclusion, combat stereotypes and engage young people in activities that lead to improved behavior and school climate.
"The program is designed to be woven into the fabric of the school, enhancing current efforts and providing rich opportunities that lead to meaningful change in creating a socially inclusive school that supports and engages all learners. What a Unified Champion School 'looks like' can vary greatly from school to school, based on the needs, goals, schedules and other factors unique to each school; but the basic building blocks remain the same."
"Preliminary research suggests that Unified Champion Schools® have more RESPECT for pERSITY, better SOCIAL and CIVIC LEARNING, and stronger school CONNECTEDNESS and ENGAGEMENT."
A HUGE thanks to Deidre for bringing this inclusive program to Morse High School! I am excited to see how our involvement in Special Olympics elevates Morse High School.
Cynthia Larkin, Ed.D.
