MV Schools Hold Unified Champions Events

Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) celebrated three Unified Champions field days in May with preschool, elementary, middle and high school students participating in the fun. Unified Champions is a Special Olympics program that engages schools in creating climates of inclusion, acceptance, respect and human dignity for ALL students. Students with and without disabilities competed on the same teams to provide an inclusive environment where every student participates regardless of athletic, intellectual, ambulatory or functional abilities.

The three elementary schools hosted one Unified Champion event with many students from each elementary who were combined into mixed groups in an effort to meet new friends. The students started the day with the National Anthem and a walk around the Mt. Vernon High School track. The elementary students then rotated through various fun activities that were located in the middle of the track, such as: jumping over mini hurdles, running relay races, throwing plastic javelins (pool noodles), and long jumping. 

Mt. Vernon Middle School and Mt. Vernon High School also hosted their Unified Champion event with lunch at the high school track. Their event consisted of similar activities as the elementary school event and students enjoyed the sunshine while they supported eachother and cheered on their peers. The champions all went through a raised arms tunnel lined up on the track, tossed the ball to eachother, threw javelins and jumped mini-hurdles while others drew Unified Champions messages and pictures with chalk.

The middle and high school event ended by awarding the Andrew Mize Unified Champions Participant of the Year Award to Yaribelle Sanchez. This annual award is in honor of a Mt. Vernon student, Andrew Mize, who passed away unexpectedly in April of 2018. 

The Mini-Marauder Preschool also hosted a Unified Champions field day in the field near their playground. Smiles were all around the activity stations including tossing bean bags into a hamper, running around an obstacle, bouncing a ball on the parachute as a team, kicking balls to their partner, balancing on a colorful beam, leaping onto colored tiles and more. These Mini-Marauders practiced teamwork and patience while getting their energy out on the sunny day.

Special thanks to CSO and Greenfield Banking Company for sponsoring all the Unified Champions tshirts. The events also would not have been such a success without all the staff who planned the event and worked with the athletes, as well as all the high school student volunteers who supported the event. 

MVCSC is proud to be a Unified School District and a participant of the Unified Champion Special Olympics program. Mt. Vernon places importance on providing these opportunities for students to grow by engaging, educating and empowering each child.