MTHS UNIFIED PROGRAMS PRESENTATION 2018-2019...MTHS UNIFIED GOALS ØTo provide every individual student the opportunity to move, be active, and have fun. ØTo have allour students

MTHS UNIFIED PROGRAMS

“UNIQUELY THE SAME”

MTHS UNIFIED GOALSØ To provide every individual student the opportunity to move, be active,

and have fun.

Ø To have all our students be role models and school leaders.

Ø To implement accommodations and strategies that provide effective instruction in functional and developmentally appropriate skills within the least restrictive environment for students to thrive.

Ø To encourage sportsmanship, communication, teamwork, and social skills throughout our curriculum.

Ø To have students be a role model for each other and to have healthy living skills which span physical, mental, and social skills.

WHAT IS FALCON P.A.L.S UNIFIED PHYSICAL EDUCATION?

We currently have two Unified Physical Education classes (Falcon PALS) and one 18-21 year old program (Community Based Fitness).

v Our objective is to have all our students develop into peer leaders who model social skills and behaviors while engaging and encouraging classmates in physical skills sets and activities.

v Students who are in Unified PE strive to possess a strong sense of themselves, good character, compassion, maturity, and patience while developing new and meaningful friendships.

v Our senior partners fulfill their Physical Education requirement by spending three marking periods in our Unified P.E. and one in senior health with another teacher.

v Our students share valuable lessons and learn from each other.

WHEN DOES CLASS START?

v At the end of this year, we will hold a training session and an end of the year picnic for new P.A.L.S to mingle with the current years Unified Physical Education class.

v New P.A.L.S. partners will complete a K-W-L chart. Questions and concerns will be addressed in a September training session.

v The Unified Physical Education class starts the first day of school. Seniors take P.A.L.S. P.E. for three marking periods and join other seniors for health during M.P. 3.

DO OUR UNIFIED STUDENTS RECEIVE HEALTH?

v We have a Unified health class Wednesdays during 2nd MP with senior partners and 3rd MP with Junior Partners.

v Our topics range from communication skills, social skill sets, puberty, relationships, refusal skills, etc…

v We also hit on a lot of the health core curriculum standards in our P.E. classes.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL P.A.L.S CLASS LOOK LIKE?

v P.A.L.S. is an acronym for Peer Assisted Leadership Skills.

v We have 84 minute blocks.

v Unified partners lead warm-ups (w/music of course) .

v We often use the weight room to do a quick cardio session or Fitness circuit.

v We do HS P.E. games as well as games to enrich social skills, fine & gross motor skills and mental acuity .

v We use Google classroom for rubrics, assignments, and journaling.

v We also have portfolios showcasing our work in P.E. and Health.

v Students often perform partner and group projects. An example of a partner project would be creating a social story about a sport or activity on a movie. A partner project would entail creating a power

point oral presentation on a specific soccer drill including video clips, rules, and a drill to be taught to the entire class.

v Students complete rubrics on their partner that can range from motor skills to sport specific skill to sportsmanship. Students also journal their class experiences.

v Partners collaborate to create a lesson to teach to the entire class based on their strengths. As an example, we have a dancer and partner who taught our class three dances for our haunted HS.

v We learned about healthy eating and my plate. As well as created a power point and PSA to be presented to the class verbally.

v We take various trips that combine social life skills with physical activity.

OUR ACTIVITIES…HIKINGStudents learn map skills, pace, and environmental awareness while encouraging lifelong fitness skills such as walking, climbing and jumping.

PROJECT ADVENTUREStudents engage in a multitude of teambuilding, communication, and trust activities in a safe non-judgmental environment.

SOCCER Students will experience the basic rules, regulations, and skills involved in the game of soccer. Teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship are points of emphasis.

YOGA Students engage in special needs yoga; where relaxation, stretching, and strengthening techniques are the class focus.

FITNESSStudents learn how to perform different types of exercises and will work on cardio vascular endurance, muscular strength/ endurance, and kinesthetic awareness.

BOWLINGStudents learn basic bowling skills, etiquette, and score keeping.We have at Falcon Life represented a Special Olympic team!!!

BASKETBALLStudents learn and implement basic skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting in individual and group activities. Students will incorporate teamwork and sportsmanship while participating in activities.

VOLLEYBALLStudents learn proper volleyball striking techniques and strategy while engaging in individual and group activities.

TENNIS/PICKLEBALL Indoor tennis students learn basic form and striking techniques (grip, forehand, backhand) that may be implemented while playing various racquet sports.

HORSEBACK RIDINGStudents learn basic care of horses, tour the farm, and horse back riding. This is an opportunity to improve coordination, balance, focus and self-esteem.

RECREATIONAL SPORTSStudents will engage in multiple sports and activities that require agility, balance, eye-hand coordination, sportsmanship, and teamwork.

HEALTH Our students have health during 2nd and 3rd marking period. Along with the district behaviorist, we focus on hygiene, healthy relationships, understanding changes in the body as well as sexual health.

OUR ACTIVITIES…

OUR TRIPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS!We include several trips and special events throughout the school year that

encourage the use of physical, mental, and social skills for our students.

HORSEBACK RIDINGWe visit Special Strides, a horse farm that specializes in working with the students of all needs. Our students are afforded the opportunity to groom horses, tour the farm, do arts and crafts, and ride a horse.

SONJ UNIFIED YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMITWe attended the SONJ Unified Youth Leadership Summit where we met students from other schools and shared our experiences as high school students.

BOWLINGWe bowl at Knob Hill where we learn how to keep score and do social stories with our P.A.L.S, while we practice for our SONJ team.

VIRTUAL SHOPPINGWe go virtual shopping at Stop and Shop where we document food groups by taking pictures and purchase healthy foods to create a special treat. We do virtual shopping with our Ipads.

PUMPKIN PATCHWe visit a pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins together and take time to decorate our pumpkins in class.

STOP AND SHOPWe visit Stop and Shop and purchase food to create a healthy snack. We learn how to follow a recipe and cook a healthy meal to coincide with our My Plate lesson.

OUR TRIPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS!RESPECT WEEKWe host a RESPECT WEEK with Project FUN where we raise awareness and acceptance of all of our classmates.

SELL ITEMS We sell puzzle pieces and ribbons to show support and respect for our friends. We sold t-shirts with our motto “Uniquely the Same” to show support and raise money for SONJ and our unified programs.

SNOW BALL DANCEWe will host a Snow Ball dance to create a fun and accepting community for all to enjoy!

DISABILITY AWARENESS TEAMWe host the Disability Awareness Team where the presenters conduct an assembly for all students to help raise awareness and understanding while providing answers to many questions about living with a disability and how to overcome life’s obstacles.

YOGA ON THE Beach We go to Point Pleasant in the spring where we practice yoga and walk around on the boardwalk for social interaction in the community. We have two amazing Yoga instructors who work with our classes to teach us relaxation techniques while increasing core strength!

SCHOOL ATHLETIC EVENTSWe attend various school athletic events. We have snacks and hang out prior to the game and then cheer on our team!

POPCORN FOR THE PEOPLEWe raise money and awareness for the “Popcorn for the People”. This year we sold $4,000 worth of popcorn for the non profit “Lets Work for Good” (a non profit that assists and hires adults with different abilities).

SOCIALWe host an end of year social for all of the parents/students and community members that make our class possible. We bring in speakers and special activities (yoga) for our invitees.

18-21 YEAR OLD COMMUNITY BASED FITNESS

v Our Community Based Fitness (C.B.F) Physical Education program provides students who are enrolled in the “T.A.P.” (Transitioning Adult Program) at MTHS and senior students who take our Senior Elective option.

v The “C.B.F.” Physical Education piece will unify18-21 students in a safe, non judgmental environment where an emphasis will be placed on independent learning and use of community facilities and classes.

v The overall goal is to enhance all of our students’ awareness of fitness and life-time leisure sports available in the community so that they can maintain an active, healthy adult lifestyle . Students are taught how to move through the community independently. Students are also expected to be socially appropriate and learn how to self advocate.

C.B.F. OBJECTIVESv Provide our students the chance to discover leisure sports and lifetime

fitness opportunities available to them as adults.

v Provide an opportunity that gives students first hand experience in independently achieving physical and social competency.

v Work within a small learning population with students of all abilities to postulate social skills in a community setting.

v Travel to community establishments that offer various types of exercise and leisure activities.

v Increase community awareness of our programs and provide an opportunity for community members to get involved with the education of our students.

C.B.F. ACTIVITIESv Disc golf

v Golf-driving ranges, miniature, pitch and putt – (lessons donated by Applegarth Golf Center)

v Fitness centers-group classes, tours, -(donated by Snap Fitness in Jamesburg)

v Yoga - (donated by Hope Yoga)

v Bowling- (discounted rates from Knob Hill Country Lanes)

v Title Nine boxing classes – (donated by Title Nine in Metuchen)

v Fitness classes- (donated by Karma Fitness in Monroe)

v Travel training with NJTIP- take a trip to New Brunswick to learn about using public transportation

v Fitness training at Jersey Strong gym in Manalapan

v Horseback riding at Special Strides Horse Farm

v Ice skating- hopefully next year!

v Bicycling

v Hiking

v Fishing

PROJECT F.U.N. (FALCONS UNIFIED NOW)

We are a SONJ Play Unified School that has an establish youth-led,inclusive club that works with adult allies to organize school-wideinitiatives including sports, Respect Campaigns, and partners' clubactivities. Each year Special Olympics New Jersey hosts YouthLeadership Summits across the state to bring youth leaders together forleadership training, networking and team building.

OUR GOAL: is to have our club designed to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment that welcomes all students to do a variety ofactivities together.

SOME OF THE EXCITING ACTIVITIES WE DO AT OUR CLUB

PROJECT F.U.N.v Created a Wizard of Oz set where we

dressed in costume and distributed candy for community children at our FBLA annual Haunted HS.

v Top fundraiser for the SONJ Cool School Polar Bear Plunge!

v Falcon’s Palette- a student led painting class for parents/teens

v Falcon’s Palette Jr- unified parent/child paint night

v Doing a scavenger hunt in the building

v Creating various arts and crafts for teachers, parents etc…

v Go to the movie theater to watch a movie together!

v Learning new dances

v Shop together at the East Brunswick Mall

v Practicing for unified soccer, bowling, basketball, and track and field

v Host respect week (see flyer)

v Attend various sporting events

v Attend various musical concerts and plays

v Various arts and crafts

v Board game days

v Host the Snow Ball Unified Winter Dance in February

UNIFIED PARTNERSHIP “UP” FITNESS

A club created to provide our students who are neuro typical and our students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to engage in lifetime fitness opportunities

v UP Fitness would take place every Thursday on a rotating schedule starting in October and ending in May

v The three activity offering would be :§ UP Yoga - a course designed to have students engage in fundamental movements and breathing strategies that help

develop motor skills, confidence, social skills, sensory integration, coping techniques, while increasing self-awareness.

§ UP Training - a course designed to use various training techniques to improve participants overall fitness levels. Strength training to increase muscular tone and core development for balance and strength. Cardio vascular training designed to increase students’ endurance levels. Various stretching techniques to increase flexibility to reduce the potential of injury in daily living.

§ UP Zumba - a course designed to increase body awareness, physical endurance, and social interaction while promoting creative expression and the self-discipline required in learning and reciting dance movements, in a fun non-judgmental setting.

v Students need to complete a board approved physical and parental/guardian permission slip to participate

v Club will start at 2:10 p.m. and end at 3:45 p.m.

v Bussing home is provided

UNIFIED PARTNERSHIP (UP) ACTIVITIES

UNIFIED PARTNERSHIP (UP) DANCE 2017-2018 welcomed our Unified Partnership with the MTHS Dance Team!

v Students with multiple disabilities engage in the MTHS’s after-school dance team’s practices and some performances.

v Practices take place throughout the school year on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

v Students who participate in Unified Partnership Dance must have a BOE approved physical and be registered on Family ID.

v Practices will run from 2:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. sharp in the wrestling room or café.

v Students who are members of UP Dance will perform at select basketball games and school wide assemblies.

v Bussing will be provided or parents/guardians must pick up their child at 4:00 p.m. sharp at the security desk in the front of the building.

v There will be many practices and competitions throughout the year reserved for the varsity dance team alone.

UNIFIED ELECTIVESv It is an extension of the Falcon PALS Unified PE program.

v Unified Electives is an exciting opportunity for all of our students at MTHS. We chose “Unified” meaning together for a purpose.

v An elective course where we strive to have half of the class contain students from the general education population. The general education students elect to take a two semester (mixed) course in the same setting as a portion of our self-contained classes.

v The two year long unified elective courses offered are music appreciation and “living on your own”.

v Students from the general education population role model social skill sets in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. This will help alleviate the anxiety of our students with intellectual disabilities while hoping the experience will be rewarding to all students involved.

v Students are expected to learn side by side. Senior partners are not teachers or even mentors, but those who lead by example, complete assignments, and have a worthwhile learning experience side by side with their peers.

v Students will learn some of the skill sets from a typical class but in a different way…”The same but different”.

v Activities may be designed to assimilate more partner and group work. All students will be challenged to learn and progress in the course.

What are Unified Sports?School-based Unified SportsInclusive sports provide youths of all abilities the opportunity to train and play together as teammates. Students develop exceptional athletic skills while forming friendships, fostering respect for each other, and becoming leaders on and off the court. Unified Champions schools offer a variety of opportunities from competition, to player development, to recreation and intramural to bring students of all abilities together as teammates and friends.

Monroe Township High School’s Involvement:For the past four years Monroe Township has been developing amazing programs designed to provide equal opportunities for all our students. The popularity of these programs has made Monroe a model district for accommodating students of different abilities and intellectual disabilities. Our population of students with intellectual disabilities and different abilities has doubled.

We currently have teams in the following sports:§ Special Olympics bowling, where several of our athletes have medaled at State Championships and

tried out for the National team.§ Unified Athletics through the Special Olympics. § Shriver Cup Unified Bowling (gold and silver medalists)-practice during P.E.§ Unified soccer conducted practices from September to November. Shriver Cup championships in

silver medalists in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 § Unified Basketball – conduct practices from January- April. Played a 6 game interscholastic schedule

and were silver medalists in the Shriver Cup.§ Unified Track and Field- practice from April to June. Schedule track meets with neighboring Unified

programs.

ELEMENTARY UP LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

v Starting in November, our CBF/Unified Leaders class visits each elementary school once a month on Tuesdays.

v The first visit CBF/Unified Leaders class perform games, activities, and skills solely with the population with intellectual disabilities.

v Teacher recommendations would be collected for neuro typical students who possess compassion, self assurance, patience, and good behaviors.

v Nuerotypical students who are recommended will join the students with intellectual disabilities to create a Unified Partnership Class.

v MTHS UP Leaders visit to perform various activities to promote friendship and unity.

v MTHS UP Leaders will conduct Falcon’s Palette Jr. parent/child social paint night.

v MTHS UP Leaders will create a district wide Unified field day.

2018-2019 SONJ CHAMPION SCHOOL OF THE YEAR!

NATIONAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHAMPION SCHOOL