UCS SPOTLIGHT
We had a student from Vancleave High School to attend this event that was a partnership with Microsoft and the national Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® builds on Special Olympics’ values, principles and practices to shape a generation that welcomes everyone.
With sports as the foundation, the three-component strategy offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip educators and young people with tools to create sports, classrooms, and school climates of acceptance. This is accomplished by implementing activities in the following areas:
The Three Components
Unified Schools
Unified Sports provides individuals — with and without intellectual disabilities — the opportunity to train and compete as a team. Unified Sports promotes acceptance and inclusion in schools.
Inclusive Youth Leadership
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools brings youth with and without intellectual disabilities together through education, sports, and youth leadership to provide them with the opportunities to be advocates for acceptance, respect, and inclusion for ALL in their school communities.
Whole School Engagement
Unified Champion Schools must engage the entire school community. An inclusive school climate that fosters understanding and respect for all can influence how students think and act, both within and beyond the school.
This strategy is designed to be woven into the fabric of the school, enhancing current efforts and providing new opportunities that develop a socially inclusive school that supports and engages all learners.
Unified Champion Schools engage students through unique combinations of activities, that include three components: Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Whole-School Engagement.
What a Unified Champion School “looks like” can vary greatly from school to school, based on the needs, goals, schedules and other factors unique to each school; but the basic building blocks remain the same
UNIFIED STRATEGIES IN SCHOOLS ALIGN WITH IMPORTANT EDUCATION PRIORITIES, INCLUDING:
- Social-Emotional Learning
- Developing World-Class Graduates;
- Developing Soft-skills, including leadership, communication, and teamwork in diverse environments.
- Developing Anti-bullying & Safe School Initiatives
- Developing Positive Behavior Intervention, and Character Education
- Health & Wellness, including Anti-Obesity & Anxiety Management
- Student Engagement & Drop-Out Prevention
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UCS Schools & Clubs In Mississippi
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Student Enrollment in UCS in Mississippi
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UCS Events in Mississippi
“The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program has helped to create a socially inclusive and accepting environment for all at our school. Watching the relationships and sense of community grow from the implementation of UCS has been a special and rewarding experience. Everyone is welcome and everyone has value!”
Lesley Payne, Educator
UNIFIED PE
Unified PE provides a unique opportunity for students with and without disabilities to come together through ongoing educational and physical activities, using the power of Special Olympics. The Unified Physical Education course is structured around the national physical education standards and grade-level outcomes. Additionally, the class supports the development of leadership skills for all students as well as the empowerment of ALL students to foster an inclusive class and school-wide environment. Students in Unified Physical Education courses may have the opportunity to participate in competitions with other schools or attend Special Olympics events.
UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS IN MISSISSIPPI
2024-25
Elementary
Belmont Elementary
Bogue Chitto School
Brandon Elementary
Conehatta Elementary
Belmont Elementary
Joyner Elementary
Kemper County Lower Elementary
Kemper County Upper Elementary
Madison Crossing Elementary
McLaurin Elementary
Morgantown Elementary
Pearl River Elementary
Pontotoc Elementary
Red Water Elementary
Smilow Collegiate
Standing Pine Elementary
Thames Elementary
Thomas Street Elementary
Tishomingo Elementary
Tucker Elementary School
West Bolivar Elementary
West Elementary
Tishomingo County School District
Choctaw Tribal Schools
Rankin County School District
Choctaw Tribal Schools
Tupelo Public School District
Kemper County School District
Kemper County School District
Tupelo Public School District
Madison County School District
Natchez-Adams School District
Natchez-Adams School District
Choctaw Tribal Schools
Pontotoc School District
Choctaw Tribal Schools
Republic Charter Schools
Choctaw Tribal Schools
Hattiesburg Public School District
Tupelo Public School District
Tishomingo County School District
Choctaw Tribal Schools
West Bolivar Consolidated School District
Adams School District
Area 11
Area 18
Area 8
Area 18
Area 11
Area 5
Area 5
Area 11
Area 8
Area 7
Area 7
Area 18
Area 11
Area 18
Area 14
Area 18
Area 1
Area 11
Area 11
Area 18
Area 9
Area 7
Middle School
Belmont Middle School
Blackburn Middle School
Brandon Middle School
Chastain Middle School
Germantown Middle School
Iuka Middle School
Joyner Elementary
Kirksey Middle School
Mantachie Junior High
Marshall Middle School
Midtown Public Charter Schools
N.R. Burger
Natchez Middle School
Olde Towne Middle School
O. M. McNair Middle School
Peeples/Whitten Middle School
Shannon Middle School
Stone Middle School
Smilow Prep
Tupelo Middle School
Vancleave Middle School
Whitten Middle School
Tishomingo County School District
Jackson Public School District
Rankin County School District
Jackson Public School District
Choctaw Tribal Schools
Madison County School District
Tishomingo County School District
Jackson Public School District
Itawamba County Schools
Holmes County Consolidated School District
Midtown Public Charter Schools
Hattiesburg School District
Natchez-Adams School District
Madison County School District
Mississippi Achievement School District
Jackson Public School District
Lee County School District
Stone County School District
Republic Charter Schools
Tupelo Public School District
Jackson County School District
Jackson Public School District
Area 11
Area 14
Area 8
Area 14
Area 18
Area 8
Area 11
Area 14
Area 11
Area 15
Area 14
Area 1
Area 7
Area 8
Area 9
Area 14
Area 11
Area 3
Area 14
Area 11
Area 12
Area 14
High Schools
Amanda Elzy High School
Belmont High School
Callaway High School
Choctaw Central High School
Enterprise High School
Florence High School
Forest High School
Greenwood High School
Grenada Lafayette High School
Holmes County Central High School
Humphreys County High School
Itawamba Ag High School
Itawamba Attendance Center
Jim Hill High School
Kemper County High School
Magee High School
Mantachie High School
McEvans/Shaw High School
Mooreville High School
Murrah High School
Natchez High School
Noxapater Attendance Center
Oxford High School
Pass Christian High School
Pearl High School
Philadelphia High School
Pontotoc High School
Provine High School
ReImagine Prep Charter School
Richland High School
Saltillo High School
Shannon High School
South Pontotoc High School
Tishomingo County High School
Vancleave High School
West Bolivar High School
Wingfield High School
Yazoo City High School
Greenwood Leflore County School District
Tishomingo County School District
Jackson Public School District
Choctaw Tribal Schools
Enterprise School District
Rankin County School District
Forest Municipal School District
Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District
Grenada School District
Holmes County School District
Mississippi Achievement School District
Itawamba School District
Itawamba School District
Jackson Public School District
Kemper County School District
Simpson County School District
Itawamba County School District
West Bolivar Consolidated School District
Lee County School District
Jackson Public School District
Natchez-Adams School District
Winston-Louisville Municipal School District
Oxford School District
Pass Christian School District
Pearl Public School District
Philadelphia Public School District
Pontotoc City School District
Jackson Public School District
Republic Charter Schools
Rankin County School District
Lee County School District
Lee County School District
Pontotoc City School District
Tishomingo County School District
Jackson County School District
West Bolivar Consolidated School District
Jackson Public School District
Mississippi Achievement School District
Area 15
Area 11
Area 14
Area 18
Area 5
Area 8
Area 18
Area 15
Area 4
Area 15
Area 9
Area 11
Area 11
Area 14
Area 5
Area 2
Area 11
Area 9
Area 11
Area 14
Area 7
Area 18
Area 4
Area 3
Area 8
Area 18
Area 11
Area 14
Area 14
Area 8
Area 11
Area 11
Area 11
Area 11
Area 12
Area 9
Area 14
Area 10
Boys & Girls Club
Cleveland B&G Club
Columbus B&G Club
Greenwood B&G Club
Grenada B&G Club
Hazelhurst B&G Club
Holmes County B&G Club
Itta Bena B&G Club
Clarksdale B&G Club
Lexington B&G Club
Starkville B&G Club
Walker Unit B&G Club
West Point B&G Club
Yazoo B&G Club
Cleveland, MS
Columbus, MS
Greenwood, MS
Grenada, MS
Hazelhurst, MS
Lexington, MS
Itta Bena, MS
Clarksdale, MS
Lexington, MS
Starkville, MS
Jackson, MS
West Point, MS
Yazoo, MS
Area 9
Area 6
Area 15
Area 4
Area 14
Area 15
Area 15
Area 9
Area 15
Area 6
Area 14
Area 6
Area 10
Head Start Centers
Billy J McCain Head Start Center
Bolivar County Head Start Center
Cedars Head Start Center
Cleveland #1 Head Start Center
Cleveland #2 Head Start Center
Cleveland #3 Head Start Center
Drew Early Head Start Center
Drew Head Start Center
Greenwood Head Start Center
Indianola Head Start Center
Rosedale Head Start Center
Shaw Head Start Center
Sunflower Head Start Center
Vicksburg Kings Head Start Center
Mount Bayou, MS
Cleveland, MS
Vicksburg, MS
Cleveland, MS
Cleveland, MS
Cleveland, MS
Drew, MS
Drew, MS
Greenwood, MS
Indianola, MS
Rosedale, MS
Shaw, MS
Sunflower, MS
Vicksburg, MS
Universities & Colleges
Jackson State University
Meridian Community College
Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi State University
University of Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi
Jackson, MS
Meridian, MS
Itta Bena, MS
Starkville, MS
Oxford, MS
Hattiesburg, MS
Area 14
Area 5
Area 15
Area 6
Area 4
Area 1
Other
Magnolia Speech School
Madison County