Mead Middle School was recognized as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School for its commitment to promoting inclusivity and social inclusion in all its activities.
“Mead Middle has made significant efforts over the years to include all our students,” said Principal Josh Barnett. “We saw Unified as a way to include our Significant Support Needs (SSN) students in sports and provide an opportunity for our entire community to cheer them on.”
In order to receive the recognition the school had to meet specific requirements and standards set by the Special Olympics organization. These requirements include offering an inclusive sports program, providing opportunities for inclusive youth leadership and encouraging school-wide engagement in creating an accepting and inclusive environment, according to a news release from the St. Vrain Valley School District.
Mead Middle School offers unified bowling, basketball and a Best Buddies program that provides students with and without disabilities an opportunity to collaborate and form lasting friendships, SVVSD stated.
"One of the most remarkable aspects of our Unified program is that it encourages each student to think beyond themselves,” said Barnett. “Middle school students benefit greatly from lessons in empathy and inclusivity."
The school works to integrate these lessons into its culture and encourages students to find their own way to be inclusive.
"I love seeing our SSN students included in all aspects of the school day,” said Special Education Teacher Kristina Miller. “When I see our students sitting with our SSN (significant support needs) students at lunch or playing basketball with them during recess with no adults asking them to, that is when I know that we have a truly inclusive environment. This is something I see on a daily basis at Mead Middle School. The Unified Program not only benefits the kids in the SSN programs, it gives our whole student body an opportunity to be more inclusive and more sensitive to others' needs.”
