South View Middle School earns national recognition as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School
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South View Middle School earns national recognition as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School
South View Middle School has been recognized as a National Special Olympics Unified Champion School for its efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without intellectual disabilities. South View is the first and only middle school in the state to be recognized.
The recognition is a testament to the school's adherence to 10 specific national standards of excellence, developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community. South View Middle School's attainment of the Special Olympics Unified Champion School status is grounded in its implementation of Special Olympics Unified Sports®. Within this program, students with and without disabilities train and compete as teammates.
“South View Middle School has demonstrated outstanding efforts in their school to create exemplary environments of belonging for all students. The students and teachers at South View Middle School are true champions of inclusion and deserving of this incredible honor,” said Demaya Walton, Director of Unified Champion Schools at Special Olympics Minnesota.
“We are immensely proud to be recognized with this honor,” said South View Middle School Assistant Principal Tami Jo Cook. “I think our Unified program is one of the most special and inspiring offerings we have at South View. It creates a culture of inclusion and friendship that is unmatched, providing memories and experiences that last a lifetime. This award reaffirms our commitment to fostering an environment where every student feels valued, included, and able to achieve their fullest potential.”
South View has a long history of recognition for its inclusive school community. In 2015, South View was the first middle school in Minnesota to earn Unified Champion School status by Special Olympics. In 2019, South View Middle School was named Unified Champion School of the Year by Special Olympics, MN and last year, Assistant Principal Tami Jo Cook was named to Special Olympics’ National Education Leaders Network. Read more about South View Middle School’s Edina Unified program: https://southview.edinaschools.org/get-involved/edina-unified