Newsletter- Unified Champion Schools

September Newsletter

Welcome Back to the 2024-2025 School Year!

We’re excited to kick off what promises to be our best year for Unified Champion Schools. This year, we’re bringing you an exciting array of Youth Leadership opportunities, Whole School Engagement activities, and Unified Sports events. Plus, we’re launching our new Unified Champion Schools Dashboard—your go-to resource for everything Unified!

Unified Champion Schools Dashboard

We'd love to hear from you! Please share an inspiring story, achievement, or photo from your UCS program, and you could be featured in our next newsletter. Fill out this UCS Photo and Story Highlight Form or visit our new Unified Champion Schools dashboard.

You've got mail! All Unified Champion Schools will receive curriculum playbooks and display banners shortly after they register for the program. If your school is missing an item or need a fresh replacement, please contact: Angelo Cottman.

Component 1:

Whole School Engagement

This year, we’re expanding our Whole School Engagement initiative. In addition to the Spread the Word campaign, we encourage your entire school to get involved through morning announcements, Fans in the Stands for Unified games, pep rallies, and showcasing your talents at the next school talent show!

For more resources and ideas, visit our Unified Champion Schools Dashboard and the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools site.

Component 2:

Inclusive Youth Leadership

We’re proud to announce that Tyler Downs and Brianna Cheshire from Durant High School in Tampa, FL, have been selected as the first-ever Unified Pair representing Florida in the 2024-2026 U.S. Youth Ambassador Class for Special Olympics North America. After a rigorous selection process, Tyler and Brianna earned this prestigious opportunity. They will travel to Washington, D.C. this fall for onboarding and will attend the 2025 Special Olympics North America Conference for professional development. Additionally, they’ll participate in monthly meetings with all U.S. Youth Ambassador Unified Pairs across the country. Last year, Tyler and Brianna made a significant impact as guest speakers at our State Youth Summit at the University of Central Florida, leading an engaging discussion on 'Friendship Through Inclusion' for over 80 participants, alongside a team from Special Olympics Rhode Island.

Upcoming Initiatives

We’re in the process of organizing our Youth Activation Committee. If your High School or Middle School is interested in participating, please reach out to Danielle Kent for more information.

We’re also excited to introduce new fundraising initiatives for our Race for Inclusion events. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

Additionally, we’re gearing up to launch our Special Smiles health screenings statewide. After a successful pilot last year, we’re thrilled to offer this valuable resource to schools across the state. If your school has been selected we will reach out this Fall.

Component 3: Unified Sports

The Future is Inclusion!

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new Developmental Sports Dashboard This platform provides comprehensive resources for every school-based sports program, supporting our teachers and students!

The 2024-25 school year is starting off with FHSAA Bowling and FHSAA Flag Football. With 29 high schools signed up for bowling and 20 high schools signed up for flag football, we are excited to get the competition underway starting in September and ending in November. All teams will compete in a district and regional competition, with the top teams advancing to the FHSAA State Championships.

For those schools competing in our community-based program, they are practicing for flag football, pickleball, and/or softball with competition starting in September. These teams will compete in area and region competitions, with the advancing teams competing in Special Olympics Florida’s State Fall Classic at ESPN Wide World of Sports.

Our competitive Unified Sports programs provide a great opportunity for students to travel, compete, and create friendships and long-lasting memories. Special Olympics Florida’s community-based program is available to all athletes and Unified partners once they turn 8 years old.

Additionally, we are excited to kick off two Unified leagues this fall for our students and teachers.

Unified Flag Football at South Broward High School (Tyreek Hill NFL Flag)
Unified Soccer League in St. Johns County (Florida Elite Soccer)

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