Unified PE Classes Celebrate Choose to Include Day

It was Choose to Include Day at Huntington High School as students participating in the Unified Physical Education program came together to celebrate inclusion, friendship and fun through a series of engaging activities.

The day started off with a bagel breakfast and students signing t-shirts that were donated by the Special Olympics organization. Participants from the high school’s two Unified PE classes were able to mingle and meet in classrooms where they engaged in Bingo and baked cookies together.

“The celebration continued in the gymnasium where students participated in tag games and the ever-popular parachute game, fostering collaboration and joy,” physical education teacher Lauren Blackburn said. “It was a meaningful day highlighting the importance of inclusion and the power of coming together through play.”

The Unified Physical Education class provides a unique opportunity for students with and without disabilities to come together through ongoing educational and physical activities. The purpose of the course is to provide an environment where students can apply the skills learned and bonds created during Unified PE in Huntington High School’s Unified bowling and Unified basketball programs and in other school and community sponsored activities.

The course is designed to advance student leadership, promote social justice and improve health and wellness. This course can be the foundation for creating a more inclusive school environment where individual differences are embraced and all students are accepted.

The course objectives are to increase physical fitness and sports specific skills, develop new friendships, promote social inclusion among classmates, reinforce positive and healthy habits and provide opportunities to develop movement confidence and competence in a variety of physical activities.

Thanks went out to the Special Olympics and teachers Kelly Trites and Alissa German “and all of our amazing support staff for being a part of this event and helping to create an amazing day with unforgettable memories for everyone involved,” Ms. Blackburn said.

“Participating in Choose to Include Day alongside of our special education students was an incredible experience,” sophomore Ava McDonald said. “From start to finish, the day was filled with laughter, connection and a genuine sense of community. It gave us the chance to not only spend time with our peers in a fun and supportive environment, but also taught us to appreciate the importance of kindness every day. It was more than just a day of activities; it was a day of learning, growing, and building stronger bonds across our school community.”

The Unified Physical Education course is structured around the state physical education standards and grade-level outcomes, which include gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a health-enhancing level of fitness. It combines students of all abilities to participate in developmentally appropriate lifetime activities, physical fitness and sports. Students will work together to increase competence and confidence in a variety of physical activities. Students with and without disabilities have leadership opportunities and develop social skills and relationships that will help to contribute to an overall accepting and inclusive school environment.

Educational benefits associated with the United Physical Education course are reported to include: 1) School climate improvement through acceptance, friendship and social inclusion; 2) Increase in college and career readiness through experiential learning; 3) Hands-on leadership development; 4) Social-emotional learning through student interactions and activities; 5) Genuine inclusion and sports experiences for students of diverse ability levels; 6) Students empowered to educate and impact the entire school community.

“Choose to Include Day was something we were all looking forward to since we attended the Suffolk County Unified Summit back in November,” sophomore Talia Hayden said. “Since then we have been talking about different activities that we can do during the school year to bring our community together. Today certainly lived up to our expectations. Ms. Blackburn planned a meaningful day for all those who were involved. We were able to learn and have fun as an extension of the genuine connections we have made in our gym classes. I am looking forward to this program again in the following years and to continue my time with the unified programs.”