Upstate Schools promote Inclusion Year Round

Encouraging the development of real relationships between students with disabilities and students without disabilities is often difficult. Students with disabilities can spend their entire school day in special education classes, limiting the time spent with students in the general population. To address this issue, Walhalla High School, Seneca High School, and Pickens High School participate in Unified Champion Schools activities. This is an initiative of Special Olympics to promote inclusion through organized competitions with other Unified Champion Schools. Teams are made up of students with disabilities along with students without disabilities in order to foster meaningful relationships between the participants. “Walhalla High School, Seneca High School, and Pickens High School are all very active with Unified Champion Schools,” said Terry Buckallew, special education teacher at Walhalla High School. Recently, the schools held their first Unified Champion School activity for the 2017-18 school year. Walhalla High School hosted a bowling tournament at Oconee Lanes that included Seneca High School and Pickens High School. Walhalla High School placed first place. Seneca placed second and Pickens placed third. “It was a great experience and I’m glad that I got to spend that time with these sweet and amazing kids. I’m so glad they got to show off their talents while bowling, and they had fun while doing it!” said mentor Tory Hopkins. “Even though we were competing against each other I feel like we grew closer together as a community,” said mentor Tyler Hogan “We all have a blast trying to beat each other in each event. It gives our students a chance to participate in the typical healthy school sporting rivalries,” said Ms. Buckallew. “Each school sponsors at least one event per year. This year, in addition to the bowling, we will have a kickball tournament, a basketball tournament, and a soccer tournament. We hope more schools will be involved as the year progresses. It is a great opportunity and all the students have a wonderful time! But I also want to point out that we have a wonderful student body here at WHS,” Buckallew added. I have general education peer tutors who come in to my self-contained class every period. These wonderful students embrace and accept my students just as they are so the Champion Unified Schools program is just another opportunity for them to celebrate their friendship. In fact, everyone, both students and teachers, at WHS absolutely love my students and welcome them as an important part of our school community. My students are blessed with friendships that extend past the school environment and last even after they leave our hallways.” Walhalla High School will sponsor a Kickball Tournament on Nov. 17, and Pickens High is hosting a basketball tournament in January. Seneca High School will host a soccer tournament in March. Pictured are Jordan Phillips, Ty Thomas, Max Parker, Nicholas Hamilton, and Hannah Rumsey participating in the recent Unified Champion Schools bowling competition.