North Carolina The Special Olympics powerpoint template Some tips on creating your own template and great presentations. 1

North Carolina Unified Champion Schools : Formerly known as “Project UNIFY” 2

Unified Champion Schools (formally known as “Project UNIFY”) NEW: I go to a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. My school is a Unified Champion School. I’m part of the Brighton Bulldogs Unified Club. I play on our school’s Unified soccer team. 3 / Special Olympics North Carolina PREVIOUSLY: I’m in Project UNIFY. Brighton Middle School is part of Project UNIFY.

What is a Unified Champion School? NEW NAME, SAME 3 COMPONENTS, SAME INCLUSIVE APPROACH TO ENGAGING SCHOOLS: Special Olympics Unified Sports®: Examples: Interscholastic Unified Sports, Unified PE or Unified Recreation Inclusive Youth Leadership: Examples: Unified Clubs, inclusive student councils or similar types of inclusive student group Whole-School Engagement: Examples: Spread the Word to End the Word (RWord) Campaigns, Pep Rallies or “Fans in the Stands” for Unified Sports teams, Respect Campaigns or student fundraising 4 / Special Olympics North Carolina

5 / Special Olympics North Carolina What does a Unified Champion School look like?

East Unified Champion School Highlight: Cary HS (Cary, NC) 6 / Special Olympics North Carolina #1 Unified Sports® Unified Track and Field WAKE COUNTY TRACK MEET SHOWCASE AT NCHSAA STATE TRACK MEET Club Unify INCLUSIVE STUDENT LED CLUB RACHEL (PARTNER) AND JACK (ATHLETE) ON SONC YOUTH ACTIVATION COUNCIL (YAC) Spread the Word Campaign WHOLE- SCHOOL CAMPAIGN AND VIDEO TO EDUCATE ON #STWTETW #2 Youth Leadership #3 Whole School Engagement

West Unified Champion School Highlight: William Amos Hough HS (Cornelius, NC) 7 / Special Olympics North Carolina #1 Unified Sports® Unified Husky Time INCLUSIVE SPORTS PROGRAM WEEKLY PRACTICES WITH ATHLETES AND PARTNERS IN BOCCE, SOCCER AND BASKETBALL Club Unify INCLUSIVE STUDENT LED CLUB WITH 100+ MEMBERS CARSON (PRESIDENT) AND TYLER (UNCC SO COLLEGE LEADER) PARTNERED TO HOST INCLUSIVE EVENTS) Person-First Campaign WHOLE- SCHOOL CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE ON PERSON FIRST LANGUAGE #2 Youth Leadership #3 Whole School Engagement

Our goal…is to help you! Engaging Unified Champion Schools results in: Fundraising for local program School-based events New athletes participating in local program Youth leaders and volunteers A more inclusive community and local program! 8 / Special Olympics North Carolina Goals : 360+ Unified Champion Schools in North Carolina Pre-K/Head Start Elementary, Middle, High School College Connecting local programs with Unified Champion Schools

5 min: #PlayUnified Activity 9 / Special Olympics North Carolina

15 min: Group Discussion 10 / Special Olympics North Carolina Breakout into groups of 4 8 minutes to discuss in groups: 1) Strategies for recruiting new schools in your counties 2) How you can utilize Unified Champion Schools to meet the needs of your local programs 5 minutes – in individual or local programs teams determine 3 next steps for after conference (use planning sheet)

SONC Staff Contacts SONC Youth Initiatives Directors: East (left) – Kaitlyn Smith West (right) – Kelly Merkl 11 / Special Olympics North Carolina