This fall, Newton South High School won prestigious recognition as a National Banner Unified Champion School by the Special Olympics of North America, marking the second time the school has earned the designation, which is awarded to select schools every four years.
In a newsletter to the community, Newton South Director of Athletics Patricia Riviero de Gonzalez said that Newton South was one of only 19 schools in Massachusetts – and 202 schools nationwide – to receive the award for the current school year. The award is given to schools deemed to be meeting national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect.
The recognition honored South’s Unified Sports program, which brings together on the same team students with disabilities and students without them, who serve as what the program calls “partners.”
In a statement, Special Olympics Vice President of Schools and Community Development Patty Doherty said that the success of the Unified program at Newton South was made possible by the efforts of a wide range of members of the South community.
“The athletes, partners, students, coaches, volunteers, teachers, staff, and administration at Newton South High School have all played key roles in creating a social climate where everyone feels included and respected for who they are,” she said. “We are honored to have such a strong and fully inclusive school …be recognized a second time for the hard work and dedication [it] demonstrates daily to continuously grow and strengthen [its] program.”
Currently, Newton South offers three Unified programs across the fall, winter, and spring seasons: Unified Basketball, Unified Cheer, and Unified Track & Field.
Jesus Rodriguez, coach of South’s Unified Basketball team, said that observing teammates interacting both on and off the court has been a rewarding experience.
“What I love is when you see them in the hallways, the kids notice the partners,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s tough for them to have friends in the community, so it’s cool to see that in the lunchroom and in the hallways.”
Riviero de Gonzalez said that she values the program because it extends athletic opportunities to students who might not otherwise have access to them.
“It’s giving everybody the opportunity to represent the school name, …creating a space for every student where they can feel comfortable and safe to participate with all the support that they need,” she said.
Kate Nardell, coach of South’s Unified Cheer team, said that the strong connections forged through the program foster a greater sense of empathy and understanding among teammates.
“We don’t live in a world where everyone is the same archetype,” she said. “[It’s important to be] getting along and working with other people that you may not know and expanding your worldview.”
Hannah Schwager, a senior who plays on South’s Unified Basketball team in addition to the school’s varsity basketball and softball teams, said that Unified programs encourage participants to broaden their outlook and reflect on what being an athlete means to them.
”For students who participate in sports outside of Unified, Unified changes your perspective on sports and makes you have to be a good teammate in a different way than you’re used to,” she said. “Being honored with the banner is a testament to the community that Unified creates, a welcoming and inclusive environment that continues in and out of the gym.”
Theo Younkin is a Fig City News student reporter, a junior at Newton South High School, and Co-Managing Editor of the NSHS Lion’s Roar.