Pittsford Mendon High School is proud to announce that it has been named as a Unified Champion School. Also known as “Project Unify” or “Champions Together,” the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program promotes social inclusion by using intentionally planned and implemented activities that encourage systems-wide change in K–12 schools and on college campuses.

The foundation of the program is athletics, boasting activities like Unified Sports®, Unified PE, Young Athletes, Unified Club, and more. As one of the first schools in New York State to offer Unified Sports, Pittsford Schools’ Unified program has grown to include Unified Basketball and Unified Bowling at the high school level. The inclusion of these sports help foster environments where students with disabilities feel welcome, and are routinely included in all activities, opportunities and functions.

Pittsford’s focus on inclusion also branches out to other areas of the school district in a number of ways, such as establishing a leadership group of staff and students to participate in the annual Youth Activation Summit hosted by Special Olympics of New York; training said group in Whole School engagement; and partnering with the Best Buddies program, TIES, and Interact clubs.

By implementing these inclusive sports and youth leadership opportunities, and whole school engagement, schools like Pittsford Mendon can enhance their efforts and provide opportunities that lead to meaningful change in creating a socially inclusive school and community that supports and engages all learners.

“We are proud and honored to be recognized as a Unified Champion School,” said Pittsford Superintendent Michael Pero. “Pittsford Schools works with students, faculty, staff, parents and the community to support an inclusive environment. We are proud of our participation in and growth of the Unified Sports program, and look forward to continuing to honor our commitment to promoting inclusion for all students.”