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Honored

Members of The Woodstock Academy Unified Sports program display their Special Olympics Unified Champion School banner with Headmaster Chris Sandford, far right, Director of Athletics Aaron Patterson, far left, coach Yori Ayotte, third from left, and team manager Robin Smith, second from right. Courtesy photo.

 

 

Woodstock

Academy

honored

WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Academy’s Unified Sports program has been named a 2017 Unified Champion Banner School by Special Olympics International. The Academy was recognized Dec. 9, at the Unified Leadership Summit at Aetna in Hartford.

Special Olympics Connecticut and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) combined to make Connecticut one of the first states in the country to participate in the Banner Unified Champion School program.

“I am very proud of our athletes and coaches for the hard work that they have put in to make our Unified Sports program a model for others to follow,” said WA Athletics Director Aaron Patterson. “We are thankful to be recognized for our efforts. Our Unified Sports team has brought value and joy to our institution and it has helped create a culture of acceptance. We are truly blessed to have this program at our school.”

According to the CIAC, to qualify for recognition, a Banner Unified Champion School must: have Unified Sports team(s) that participate(s) in at least two sports seasons; demonstrate Inclusive Youth Leadership; demonstrate Whole School Engagement; and ensure sustainability. 

Schools honored receive a large banner that reads “Special Olympics Unified Champion School” and a sticker for that given year. The banners also include open space for future year stickers.

The Woodstock Academy has three unified sports seasons involving 11 unified sports athletes and more than 60 partners that help throughout the year. The Academy offers indoor soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and kickball and bowling in the spring. 

Under the direction of coach Yori Ayotte, the program has grown tremendously over the past six years.

“We have grown to the point we don’t have to explain what ‘Unified’ means,” said Ayotte. “The program exists for students with disabilities; however, it is so empowering that many student leaders reach out to create an accepting community. I’m extremely proud and grateful for this community where connecting with different populations is a ‘cool’ thing. For the students with disabilities, memories from unified sports are something that will last for the rest of their lives. They embrace the friendships they develop. For the partners, they learn how to be patient and to accept others. It’s extremely rewarding and it’s a great opportunity for them to build self-confidence and leadership. They are bringing their friends to the team and spreading this positive phenomenon at The Woodstock Academy. It’s a win-win situation for everybody, and it changes the culture of the entire school.”

In addition to the Banner Unified Champion School program, CIAC Special Olympics launched a new program called Youth Council this year in an effort to develop student leaders for Unified Sports/Special Olympics. The Academy is proud that juniors Erica Frost (Brooklyn), junior partner, and Mya Deshaw (Woodstock), junior athlete, have been selected as members and will work as ambassadors for The Academy.