March 29, 2024

Seekonk High School Being Recognized as a National Banner School by Special Olympics Massachusetts for Achievements with Inclusion

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Seekonk, MA – Superintendent Rich Drolet is pleased to announce that Special Olympics International, and Special Olympics of Massachusetts have selected Seekonk High School as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. In addition, on December 12th, Hasbro Corporation will join Special Olympics and honored guests at a school-wide assembly to celebrate this honor and unveil the National Banner in the Seekonk High School Gymnasium.

Seekonk High School will receive national banner recognition for its efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities.

Seekonk High School is receiving this honor as a result of meeting national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. The National Banner program looks to recognize schools around North America whose staff and students go beyond the three necessary components of Unified Champion Schools (Unified Sports, Whole School Engagement, and Youth Leadership) and truly embody inclusion.

Hasbro is sponsoring Seekonk High School’s National Banner Unveiling Assembly on December 12th. Hasbro has picked Seekonk High School along with four other schools in the country to sponsor. This assembly at Seekonk High School is aligned with the corporation’s annual Global Day of Joy, during which Hasbro employees around the world spend the day spreading cheer throughout the community by volunteering and doing acts of kindness.

“Seekonk High School staff, led by social studies teacher and Unified Coordinator Kristin Nelson, and our Seekonk High School students, have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to inclusion,” said Drolet. “It has been inspiring to see the work that has been done to guide our students to embrace differences and lead by example. For years our staff and students have been making Seekonk High School more inclusive for students who face challenges or have intellectual disabilities, and in doing so, they have also been making our entire Seekonk community and our future world a more accepting, caring place for all.”

“Receiving National Banner recognition is truly an outstanding and well-deserved achievement. It shows that they (Seekonk High School) have truly embraced what it means to be inclusive both on and off the playing field, in the classrooms and in their communities,” said Patti Doherty, director of schools and youth engagement for Special Olympics Massachusetts. “Not only do these schools offer Unified sports, youth leadership and whole-school engagement within their school, but they have elevated it to the next level and have reached the standards of excellence set forth at a national level.”

“I’m excited and all the students involved are excited about this honor and recognition.

Personally, I am so proud of our staff and students. The enthusiasm this program generates is contagious,” said Kristin Nelson, Seekonk High School Unified Program Coordinator and Coach.

The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® model is supported by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. This model has been proven, through research, to be an effective and replicable means to providing students with and without disabilities the opportunity to form positive social relationships and promote a socially inclusive school climate.

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