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Puyallup High
School offers unified sports in cycling, golf, bowling, basketball, soccer, and
softball. On September 20 Puyallup High School’s Unified Softball team was
honored at the school board meeting for their outstanding season.
Two years ago
the high school started the Unified Softball team. The interest increased, and
the team continued to grow. This summer the Unified Softball team spent their
summer practicing and competing. They began their season in June with practices,
and the practices paid off. %20(1).jpg)
On July 27
the Unified Softball team was in Olympia for the softball Southwest Region tournament
where they won the gold medal. The victory advanced the team to state tournament.
The team played so well the Special Olympics organization bumped them up to a
more challenging division.
On August 17
the team was in Everett for the two-day state tournament. After advancing
to the semi-finals, the unified team found themselves down four runs in the
bottom of the seventh inning. Like a scene out of a great movie, the underdogs
were not giving up. With only two innings left, the team scored five runs and
won the game. The victory advanced them to the finals.
Still
relishing in the success of the previous game, the team returned to the field
on August 18. Their winning streak continued as they defeated a team from
Wenatchee for the championship.
Unified Sports
are an inclusive sports program that unites Special Olympic athletes and
partners them with peer athletes. It is dedicated to promoting social inclusion
through shared sports training and competition experiences. This was motivated
by a straightforward fundamental basis: training together and playing together
is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Approximately 1.4 million
people worldwide take part in Unified Sports.
Unified
Sports is also an integral part of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools.
The program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally
planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. Each year
Special Olympics Washington requires new or returning schools to register their
school and provide what sports/activities the schools want to participate in
and how staff can best support the school throughout the year.
A Champion
School promotes a school climate that:
· * Is
free from bullying and exclusion.
· * Combats
stereotypes and negative attitudes.
· * Eliminates
hurtful language.
· * Promotes
healthy activity and interactions.
· * Is
welcoming and values the engagement of all students.
On October 15
at 9:40 a.m. Puyallup High School will be presented with a national banner
recognition as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. The high school has
demonstrated a commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of
excellence.
Puyallup will be the one of six schools in Washington State to receive the recognition
this year. Families and the community are invited to attend the nationally
recognized honor.