School Highlights September 2018 In This Issue Arthur L. Johnson High School ...........................2 Berkeley Township School District .....................5 Burnet Middle School .......................................14 Chatham High School .......................................11 Clayton High School .........................................16 Delaware Valley Regional High School .............13 East Hanover Middle School ...............................9 Fountain Woods Elementary School .................12 Hamilton High School West ................................7 Hillsborough High School .................................16 Holmdel ............................................................11 Lyndhurst Public School District .........................3 Special Olympics National Banner Recipients Metuchen High School .......................................8 Congratulations to the eight New Jersey Unified Champion Schools Montgomery High School ...................................8 receiving national banner recognition! They are: Moorestown High School ....................................5 • Burnet Middle School • Union City High School • Hamilton High School West • Voorhees High School New Milford ......................................................14 • Monroe Township High School • Woodrow Wilson Middle Old Bridge High School ......................................6 • Old Bridge High School School - Clifton • Rowan University Old Bridge High School ....................................12 These schools have demonstrated commitment to inclusion by achieving Overbrook High School .......................................2 ten standards based on the three over-arching components that include Pond Road Middle School ...................................2 Special Olympics Unified Sports®, Inclusive Youth Leadership and Whole School Engagement. They also demonstrated that they are self- Randolph High School ......................................15 sustainable or have a plan in place to sustain these activities in the future. Rutherford High School ......................................4 UCS National Banner Standards Rutherford High School ....................................15 1 The school offers Unified Sports in at least 2 seasons throughout the school year. Sayreville War Memorial High School .................6 2 Unified Sports participation occurs regularly over the course of each sport season or school term and includes competition. Somerville High School ......................................2 3 An adult coach for each sport who has received training on Special Olympics Unified Sports. Special Olympics National Banner Recipients.....1 4 Unified Sports is officially recognized by the school in a similar style as other athlet- Steinert High School – East ...............................10 ics/activities. 5 A Unified Club or student group that offers leadership opportunities/training for Union City High School .......................................5 students with and without intellectual disabilities. Voorhees High School .........................................6 6 The inclusive club/group meets at least once per month throughout the school year. 7 The inclusive club/group has an adult liaison and is officially recognized by the school Voorhees High School .......................................12 in a similar style as other clubs/activities. Washington Township High School .....................9 8 At least two whole school engagement activities per school year. West Morris Mendham High School .................14 9 Students with and without disabilities are involved with planning and leading the awareness activities. Woodlynne Public School ...................................9 10 Is currently self-sustainable or has a plan in place to sustain the 3 components into Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Clifton) .........11 the future. Office of Special Education Programs Page 1 U.S. Department of Education School Highlights September 2018 Pond Road Middle Arthur L. Johnson High School School Arthur L. Johnson High School started off September by teaching The Pond Road Middle the students the game of soccer. They were taught how to dribble School students talked the ball, pass using the inside of their foot, throw in, shoot and about Play Unified at their trap the ball for control. They also worked on some plays. The stu- first meeting. Afterwards, dents are doing really great even though they haven’t played soc- they did an icebreaker. It cer in the past. Their teamwork skills are improving immensely and was like BINGO, trying to they are having fun while doing it. Their first game of the season find other members who did specific things over the was September 30th. They played Ridge High school. Players were summer. They then played swapped during the game, so that everyone could participate. Builders and Bulldozers – knocking down and putting up cones. They also played Keepers of the Castle. Four Overbrook High School teams collected as many On 9/12, Overbrook High School had their first club meeting. They balls from the other team distributed forms that needed to be completed and provided club into their hoola-hoop. leader applications. Somerville High School On September 13, 2018 to the students and mentors Instagram page. Twitter and Somerville High School had the importance of inclusion. He Instagram have become vital their first “Peer 2 Peer” has a son with special needs platforms for announcements meeting of the year with all and heads an organization and encouraging new mem- mentors and students in at- called Teamwork Unlimited. bers to become more active. tendance. They discussed the With many of their students The students are fond of this purpose of the club, fundrais- and mentors being athletes new means of communication ing opportunities, activities (Unified Bowling and other and it allows the students for the year and encouraged varsity athletics), their guest in class to have some fun mentor participation. Prior to wants to express the impact as well. the 9/13 meeting they had an that inclusion through sports officers meeting discussing can have on special needs Their club members have the aforementioned topics youth. Along with this they shown their devotion and ea- and expectations for the club have arranged for their club to gerness despite it only being throughout the year. Septem- support club members at some a month into the school year. ber was designated to plan- of their athletic competitions. They aim to set high stan- ning for the year and appoint- dards for participation in club ing officer positions. Further, their Peer2Peer events, activities and daily Unified Club has expanded life. Their primary goal is to Somerville High School has the use of social media. They promote “Choose to Include” arranged a guest speaker for take advantage of photo op- ideals through recruitment early October. On October 9th, portunities and share them in their community during the speaker will communicate with the students on their future months. Office of Special Education Programs Page 2 U.S. Department of Education School Highlights September 2018 Lyndhurst Public School District In September, teachers were recruited to facilitate the Lyndhurst Public School District Unified Clubs. They will have two teachers at each of the following schools: Memorial, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt. A permission slip was prepared (see below) and they started planning meeting dates for the school year. The Board of Education and their new superintendent approved the facility use for Unified Club. They are fortunate that one school has a large gym. However, the other three schools have minimal indoor space for Unified Club. They plan the start of Unified Club at the end of October. In the meantime, it was great to see students walk the hallways of each school wearing the Lyndhurst Unified Club shirts and asking when Unified Club will begin this year. They are expecting even more participants this school year for grades three through eight. The Lyndhurst Public School District is very excited to begin Unified Club for the 2018-2019 school year. Play Unified Club Permission Slip 2018-2019 School Year Student Name_____________________________________ Grade____________ Homeroom _______________ Dear Parent/Guardian, Contact Phone # ___________________________________ Roosevelt School will be participating in the Unified Schools initiative in partnership with the US Parent Name______________________________________ Department of Education and Special Olympics New Jersey. The Play Unified School Partnership aims to build a society of acceptance and inclusion for all people. We know that students, with their energy, Signature_________________________________________ idealism, and creativity, can be not only participants but leaders in this mission. The Play Unified Club will give young people the tools, platform and empowerment to be the change makers in helping us reach this vision. In this program, students will have the opportunity to interact --------------------------------------------------------------- through sports, competition, social, academic, and recreational activities. The Play Unified Club will build character, increase acceptance of others, develop leadership skills, and enhance the school community. It is a program that teaches beyond the classroom and expands a students’ social horizons. Authorization for my child to walk home. The Play Unified Club will meet at Roosevelt School once a month on Tuesdays from 2:50 to 3:50