This past Tuesday and Thursday, Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Philadelphia held our first IUS League Bocce games! It was exciting to see so many athletes and partners take the court to show off their bocce skills and show great sportsmanship after their individual game concluded. George Washington High School hosted our first games on Tuesday, February 9th and Abraham Lincoln High School hosted our second games on Thursday, February 11th. Thank you to both schools for being incredible hosts and opening your gyms for other schools and our volunteers and making sure everyone felt welcomed!

In total there were 19 teams participating from 7 schools between both days. Schools who came out were: Abraham Lincoln High School, George Washington High School, High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, High School of the Future, Parkway West High School,   Simon Gratz High School, Thomas Edison High School. The competition was intense, yet full of energy. As an athlete or partner lined up to roll, there was almost complete silence on the court. As the bocce ball found it’s final resting place, the team would who rolled would erupt in cheers and clapping. With all of this excitement from the league games, we can’t wait to see what the Championship on Thursday, March 3rd at Thomas Edison High School brings!

Tuesday’s results:

George Washington: Washington, High School of the Future: Future, Simon Gratz: Gratz, Thomas Edison: Edison

	Court 1	Court 2	Court 3	Court 4
Round 1	Washington 1: 5 Future 2: 6	Washington 2:  5 Future 3:  4	Washington 3: 11 Gratz 1: 3	Future 1: 4 Edison 1: 7
Round 2	Washington 4: 8 Edison 2: 2	Washington 1: 4 Future 4: 2	Washington 2: 11 Future 2: 1	Washington 3: 6 Future 3: 8
Round 3	Gratz 1: 3 Future 1: 7	Washington 4: 15 Edison 1: 4	Washington 1: 11 Edison 2: 1
Round 4	Washington 2: 6 Future 4: 4	Washington 3: 3 Future 2: 6	Gratz 1: 5 Future 3: 4
Round 5	Future 1: 4 Edison 1: 2	Washington 4: 3 Edison 2: 5	Washington 1: 9 Future: 2

 

Thursday’s results:

Abraham Lincoln: Lincoln, HS of the Creative and Performing Arts: CAPA, Parkway West: Parkway

	Court 1	Court 2	Court 3	Court 4
Round 1	Lincoln 1: 10 Parkway 2: 1	Lincoln 2: 7 Parkway 3: 4	Abraham Lincoln 3: 7 CAPA 1: 5	Parkway 1: 6 CAPA 2: 1
Round 2	Lincoln 1: 3 CAPA 2: 7	Lincoln 2: 4 Parkway 2: 11	Lincoln 3: 3 Parkway 3: 10	Parkway 1: 4 CAPA 1: 6
Round 3	Parkway 3: 6 CAPA 1: 2	Lincoln 2: 6 CAPA 2: 3	Lincoln 1: 3 Parkway 1: 9	Lincoln 3: 3 Parkway 2: 6

 

Photos:

For more photos, please click here.

The Unified Youth Summit starts school year on right track! Seven schools within the Philadelphia School District sent their youth leaders to attend our Unified Youth Summit as part of our Interscholastic Unified Sports (IUS) program. The day started off with Britt Kleine, Director of Special Olympics Philadelphia, welcoming all of the students, coaches and school staff. Jordan Schubert, Special Olympics Chester County athlete and Special Olympics Pennsylvania staff member, was the Keynote Speaker. Jordan shared his journey through high school and college and how Special Olympics and the Unified movement impacted his life. After an inspirational keynote address, it was time to educate our student leaders on how they too could start their Special Olympics journey like Jordan. 

Our student leaders were excited to learn about the various components of the program (Unified Sports, Unified Youth Committee, and Whole School Engagement) and a new initiative Special Olympics Philadelphia is launching to help them with their Whole School Engagement – the Cool Schools Challenge as part of our inaugural Philadelphia Polar Plunge! After a brief presentation, students broke out by school to discuss how to engage students in their respective school, how to run meetings and decide on ideas to run with. After each breakout session, a representative from each school reported out to all of the student leaders. 

The Summit ended with by our student leaders taking a pledge to be the agents of change within their schools and pledging to Plunge at the Cool Schools portion of the Philadelphia Plunge to show the public that they support for inclusion and respect. Before everyone left, we took a group picture and individual school pictures with the Philadelphia Polar Plunge mascot, whose name was announced earlier during the Summit! The students loved taking pictures with the newly named mascot, Chilladelphia! 

Schools who attend the Unified Youth Summit include:

• Abraham Lincoln HS
• Universal Charter Audenried High School
• Frankford HS
• Furness HS
• High School of the Future
• Martin Luther King HS
• Thomas Edison HS

Special Olympics Project UNIFY is an education-based project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education that uses the sports and education programs of Special Olympics to activate young people across the U.S in order to promote school communities where all young people are agents of change – fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics believes that through sports young people can make a difference in friendships, schools and communities.

Project UNIFY initiatives include a host of core activities, both on the national and the grass-roots level. Local projects that meet Project UNIFY objectives are supported through a funding process for U.S. Special Olympics Programs.

Special Olympics Project UNIFY incorporates sports and related activities, however, in this new way of operating (youth-centered, school focused) there is an enhancement in current programs and paradigms from a focus on events to committing to a movement advocating for youth as change agents now and in the future. To learn more, click here.

We’re Hiring! Manager of Interscholastic Unified Partnerships

Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia is Hiring!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manager of Interscholastic Unified Partnerships                  

Programming Department – Philadelphia

Major Function:

This position is responsible for development and implementation of all SOPA, Philadelphia Interscholastic Unified Sports initiatives and partnerships through the use of sound management components, adhering to policies and procedures established by Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Inc. (SOPA), Special Olympics North America, and Special Olympics Inc.  This individual provides oversight of all aspects of our partnership with the schools in Philadelphia and presents strategies for meeting organizational goals and demands. This role will critically lead and assess all segments of our Interscholastic Unified Sports (IUS) program; meeting all Project Unify grant requirements, encouraging and implementing youth leadership initiatives and unified sports. They will identify areas to improve, and sectors to be developed or changed for program growth in order to meet SOPA’s strategic plan and IUS objectives.

Responsibilities:

School District Partnership

The core work of this position is to create opportunities for students in the Philadelphia School District to participate in Special Olympics Unified sports activities to include sports participation (training and competition opportunities), youth leadership opportunities (i.e. Unified Youth Committees), and whole school engagement (i.e. R-Word Campaigns, etc.) in accordance with the Project Unify initiatives and grant.

This individual will explore ways to enhance existing sports curriculum to include a Unified Special Olympics component, as well as developing new programming opportunities both during and after school hours for a Special Olympics experience.  These goals will be met by regular interaction with District personnel to design activities that will offer direct support to the District’s goals while meeting SOPA’s strategic plan objectives.

This individual will also work with School District personnel to prospect and identify new potential schools for future engagement based on each year’s growth goals and initiatives. This position will be responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships through all levels of the School District (Director of Health, Safety & Physical Education to teachers and other school staff and leadership) ensuring all needs are being met and IUS standards and grant requirements are also being implemented and met.

School District Activities

District partnership sports activities include but are not limited to; bocce, soccer, and athletics (track and field). In addition to expanding the sports experience for students, this position will identify other support and resource needs necessary to provide a positive outcome. Support will include; youth leadership, whole school engagement, competition opportunities, coordination of medical examination for “Participation Application” (medical) completion, meeting with parent groups, teachers, or other entities or groups to promote participation as appropriate, etc.

Unified Sports    

Working with IUS leadership, SDP Liaisons, and others as appropriate, the manager of Interscholastic Partnership will ensure all needs for successful sports participation is maintained to include but not limited to; coaches education, ordering of needed sports equipment and supplies, school environment materials (i.e., r-word, SOGII, etc.). Key Unified Sports goals for this position include;

• Supports the high quality implementation of Unified Sports through the Unified Sports models at the participating schools ensuring appropriate play levels are managed.
• Provides coaches and students trainings and professional development to enhance the degree in which all parties understand the principles and rules of Unified Sports.
• Coordinates season-long sports scrimmages/league-play days, trainings, and competitions that afford athletes and partners meaningful engagement and the opportunity to develop skill in a select sport to include opportunities to advance to higher levels of competition.

Youth Leadership & Activation

• Supports all schools as they identify student leaders to serve as Special Olympics in-school ambassadors whether through previously established school clubs or newly created Special Olympics clubs.
• Provides resources and training to school liaisons and directly to the student leaders for successful implementation of positive school climate initiatives.
• Conduct annual Youth Summit encouraging and supporting the above initiatives.

Whole School & Community Engagement

• Works closely with coaches, school liaisons, student leaders, community stakeholders to promote the vision of inclusion throughout the participating school.
• Offers resources through staff support, interns, supplies, etc., to schools as the implement year long activities for whole school engagement.
• Work to implement and support fundraising efforts within each high school focusing on, but not limited to, SOPA Philadelphia’s Polar Bear Plunge via the Cool Schools initiative.

Administrative

• Responsible for the monthly collection and submission of programming data
• Monitors budget and align spending with program goals
• Support the vision of Interscholastic Unified Sports’ statewide growth goals
• Actively and regularly visit school programs to support schools and assess the quality of the programs
• Work with individual school personnel both at the administrative and teaching level to recruit and secure schools for active participation as well as appropriate students for participation in all activities

Young Athletes Program

Young Athletes™ is a unique sport and play program for children ages 2-7 with intellectual disabilities. The focus is on fun activities that are important to mental and physical growth. In alignment with the SOPA Philadelphia 3-year Business Plan, the Manager of Interscholastic Unified Partnerships will take a lead role in the development, growth and execution of this program in partnership with schools, local YMCAs and other groups.

Organizational

Support the overall Business Plan goals of Special Olympics Pennsylvania by;

Public Awareness

Support the promotion of IUS through community awareness by working with the Director and other staff to develop media and community relations opportunities. This includes presentations, conducting promotions utilizing “r-word” and “Play Unified” campaigns, and working with selected individuals to develop additional promotional materials.

Program/Fund Raising Event Management

Support the Sports Director in the coordination of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Philadelphia competitions as it relates to the School District’s participation.

Assist the Director and other individuals as appropriate for fundraising event management. 

Communications

• Identify communication opportunities to reach a wide audience to advance growth goals of; participation of athletes and volunteers, community involvement, and financial support.
• Work with the Director to develop articles for appropriate and related periodicals, etc.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree or equivalent in Sports Management, Physical Education, or related field.
• Supervision experience and strategic plan development a strong positive.
• Experience in working with or serving as a volunteer, and a background in Special Olympics helpful.
• Fully able to drive and travel extensively, working some evenings and weekends.
• Able to lift and carry 50lbs.

Relationships:

• Reports to the SOPA, Philadelphia Director
• Supervises all interns/co-ops as they relate to school partnership activities
• School District of Philadelphia personnel
• Maintains communications and support with staff and volunteers

Location:

SOPA, Philadelphia office – 2900 Southampton Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154

How to Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates should forward their resume and cover letter to:

Britt Kleine |  Director, Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia | E: bkleine@specialolympicspa.org | F: 215.671.5033

 

 

Third-grade class acted as Fans in the Stands at our 2015 Unified Soccer Championship held for our Interscholastic Unified Sport (IUS) program within Philadelphia high schools. This is a post from Need in Deed’s Facebook page on June 12, 2015. They are posting about a third grade class from McCall School.  We were thrilled they could join us for the day to celebrate inclusion on and off the soccer field.

 

Post:

Ms. Hantman’s 3rd graders from McCall School were passionate about celebrating the amazing skills on display at Northeast High School for the recent Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Philadelphia Soccer Tournament where Philadelphia students with intellectual disabilities competed for prizes. The Need in Deed 3rd graders are winding down their service learning project on Special Needs Populations. Among so many other things they want to do, they knew the local Special Olympics event needed a great cheering section. They wrote cheers, made banners and designed their own tee-shirts. Ms. Bottaro’s 5th graders even helped make pom poms out of used plastic bags as part of their efforts to reduce plastic bag waste! Finally the day arrived. We know it’s hard to imagine how great it was, so we took lots of pictures to help you celebrate with us.

 

The 2015 Interscholastic Unified Sports Youth Summit on June 10, 2015 was a huge success! Athletes and partners represented a few of our IUS Philadelphia schools, and they all did a great job. Many things were discussed during the day, and the athletes and partners had talks about what they enjoyed about the IUS program, as well as what can be added to make the program run smoother. Both the athletes and partners had fun while participating in the program, and they also made lifelong friends in the process.

They started the day by listening to two guest speakers and then split into different groups to work on team-building and ice-breaking exercises. The ideas that they gave us for next year’s IUS program were awesome, and we can’t wait to see if we can put them into practice. The energy and excitement that everyone had while participating is what really made this IUS Youth Summit such a huge success. Hearing from the kids who are directly involved with the program gives us a great opportunity to upgrade the program for the future. We would like to thank everyone who came out and spoke or helped. We would also like to extend a huge thank you to The School District of Philadelphia for its hospitality!

The 2014 USA Games took place all over central New Jersey from Saturday, June 14 to Saturday, June 21, 2014. Venues were located at Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Mercer County Park, Brunswick Zone – Carolier, The Hun School, The Lawrenceville School, The Peddie School, Prudential Center, and the Sun National Bank Center. Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes participate in USA Games competitions.  The USA Games, held in a different state every four years, draws 3,000 athletes, 1,000 coaches, 8,000 volunteers and 15,000 family members and friends to the event from across the nation.  The 2014 USA Games offered sporting competitions in basketball, bocce, track and field, softball and an introductory sport, flag football.

 

Results

Athletics

Jackie Lutts 100 Meters – 2nd 4×1 Relay – 2nd Long Jump – 2nd Shot Put – 3rd	Tamika Newkirk 100 Meter Run – 5th 4×1 Relay – 2nd Shot Put – 7th Long Jump – 3rd
Sharon Quarles Softball Throw – 3rd 100 Walk – Participation 50 Walk – 2nd	Michael Walker Softball Throw – 3rd 100 Walk – 3rd Standing Long Jump – 3rd

AQUATICS

James Barbour

• 200 Yd Breaststroke – 1 st
• 4×100 Medley Relay – 4th
• 100 Yd Breaststroke – 1st
• 100 Yd Freestyle – 3rd

Basketball

Philadelphia Phlams – 4th

Ryan Bogan, Matt Grabowski, Derrick Jackson, Vernon Mayfield, Angel Rodriguez, Joe Rynkiewicz, Mitchell Stahl, Brian Stulz, Corey Sweet, Charlie Zisette

Head Coach Stacey Plumbo

Assistant Coach Justin Beattie, Assistant Coach Rosemary Duffy

Philadelphia Panthers – 1st

Kwante Crummy, Tyrell Hargrave, Michael Henderson, Nakisha Johnson, Sharod King, Demetrius LeFlore, Ben Liken, Christopher Ray, Paris Wallace

Head Coach Myra Asburry

Assistant Coach Beverly Liken

Bocce Singles

Siobhan Driscoll – 3rd

William Celmer – 3rd

BOCCE Doubles

William Celmer & Siobhan Driscoll – 4th

BOCCE TEAMS

William Celmer, Siobhan Driscoll, Andrea Andrews (Columbia Montour), Heather Sutton (Westmoreland) – 2nd

Unified Soccer

Philadelphia Eagles – 2nd

• Athletes: Perla Ayala, Brandon Santo,s Dion Santos, Dadly Thenor, Nina Gaeta, Ayodeji Obisanya
• Partners: Harry Hua, James Bade, Ashley Schwiker
• Head Coach: John Creighton
• Assistant Coaches: Sarah Shields, Yvonne Schwiker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To check out all of Pennsylvania’s results at the 2014 USA Games, click here, OR HERE.

On Friday, May 31, 2013, Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia program will partner with the School District of Philadelphia for an inaugural Unified Soccer Championship held at Frankford Memorial Stadium, located at the corner of Wakeling and Large Streets in Philadelphia. Opening Ceremonies, hosted by Veteran Philadelphia Sports Broadcaster Don Tollefson, will begin at 9:45am followed by competition until noon and the Championship game at approximately 12:30pm. 

The Championship features teams from 10 Philadelphia high schools from across the city including: Abraham Lincoln, Edward Bok, Frankford, George Washington, High School of the Future, Northeast, Samuel Fels, Thomas Edison, Boy’s Latin and University City High School. Approximately 100 athletes will culminate months of preparation for these Unified Games and display the “best of the best” during this year’s competition. 

The United States Department of Education (DOE) released new guidance to schools and school systems throughout the nation that receive federal aid about the requirements of providing quality sports opportunities for students with disabilities on January 25, 2013. Special Olympics Unified Sports® is an inclusive sports program that puts athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. This first ever rostered Unified Soccer elective course, developed in partnership between the School District of Philadelphia and Special Olympics Pennsylvania, includes curriculum with youth leadership components, anti-bullying elements and soccer training and competition. The course provides greater access to sports for all students, with and without disabilities. 

“To see Unified Sports in action is to see inclusion at its finest,” said Barbara Chavous, Director of Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia program. “What better way for our young people to accept their peers than to allow them to be teammates and equals on the playing field? I truly believe this program is breaking down walls and creating tremendous positive change among our youth.” 

The program anticipates guests representing Special Olympics International, Pennsylvania elected and appointed officials, City Council members and a host of dignitaries joining Dr. William R. Hite Jr., Superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia, Pedro A. Ramos, Esq., Chairman of the School Reform Commission, and administrators and staff from both the Philadelphia School District and Special Olympics Pennsylvania. 

Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia program is also launching their “Volunteer to Cheer” program to encourage students from participating schools to cheer on their peers. Competition is not as special without the fans, so supporters of any age are invited to come and support their team. For more information visit www.facebook.com/SOPAPhiladelphia and click the Volunteer to Cheer tab.

It’s the year of the thirteens! On Sunday, April 7th,  13 athletes represented Philadelphia at the 2013 Eastern Bowling Sectional. The theme of the bowling sectional was the Big Top! Philadelphia athletes joined athletes from seventeen other counties including: Area P, Berks, Bethlehem, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Columbia/Montour, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland/Snyder, Schuylkill, Union and host county, Lehigh. In total, 325 athletes and 105 met in Allentown to show 

Philadelphia athletes bowled at Mountainville Bowling Center in Allentown, PA. 

2013 Eastern Bowling Sectional Results:

1ST PLACE	Ronald Atkins, Kirstyn Cantres, Ian Capacio,  Matthew Kosman, Sheila Stevens
2ND PLACE	Michael Esposito, Allison Rutizer, Edmund Zakrocki
3RD PLACE	Russel Barndt, Joseph Lestochi
5TH PLACE	Rosemary Furlong,
6TH PLACE	Sharon Quarles
7TH PLACE	Bryan Ziegler

On March 27th, 2011 athletes represented Special Olympics Philadelphia at the 2011 Eastern Bowling Sectional. At this sectional, 300 athletes and over 50 coaches came together for an exciting day of friendly competition.

The day began with Opening Ceremonies at Trexler Middle School where Philadelphia athletes joined the 18 other programs competing in the sectional:  Area P, Berks, Bucks, Bethlehem City, Columbia Montour, Chester, Carbon, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northumberland Snyder, Schuylkill, Union, and of course the host county, Lehigh County! The DeSales University Band made a special apperance and played the National Anthem during Opening Ceremonies.

 

2011 Eastern Bowling Sectional Results:

1st Place	Russell Barndt, Kirstyn Cantres, Michael Esposito, Vincent Filograna, Matthew Kosman, William Strauser, Joseph Yerkes, Benjamin Zakrocki
2nd PLACE	Raymond Anderson, Rosemary Furlong, Angela Smith, Sheila Stevens, Nicholas Uhniat
3rd PLACE	Brian Bush, Robert Kane
4th PLACE	Siobhan Driscoll, Edmund Zakrocki
5th PLACE	April Crompton, Bryan Ziegler
6th PLACE	Lisa Barbour, John Kulpa, Shawn Kuremsky
7th PLACE	Stephanie Cooper
8th PLACE	Vernon Mayfield

Teddy Angerman, Megan Garlick and Eddie Glover represented Special Olympics Philadelphia at the 2010 National Games between July 18th – July 23rd, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska! Teddy and Megan represented us in aquatics in 3 individual events and partnered with athletes from Erie City and Northumberland/Snyder County for a medley relay. Eddie represented Philadelphia in two track events and two field events. Congratulations to our three athletes and check out their 2010 National Games results below!

 

2010 National Games Results:

Teddy Angerman (Aquatics)

• 100 Meter Freestyle – 1st Place
• 100 Meter Backstroke – 1st Place
• 100 Meter Butterfly – 1st Place
• 100 Medley Relay – 2nd Place
  • Nicole Brooks (Erie City)
  • Teddy Angerman
  • Paul Betterndorf (Northumberland/Snyder County)
  • Megan Garlick

 

 

 

Megan Garlick (Aquatics)

• 200 Meter Breaststroke – 3rd Place
• 100 Meter Breaststroke – 2nd Place
• 100 Meter Freestyle – 2nd Place
• 100 Medley Relay – 2nd Place
  • Nicole Brooks (Erie City)
  • Teddy Angerman
  • Paul Betterndorf (Northumberland/Snyder County)
  • Megan Garlick

 

 

 

Eddie Glover (Athletics)

• 100 Meter Walk – 1st Place
• Softball Throw – 1st Place
• 50 Meter Walk – Participation Ribbon
• Standing Long Jump – 1st Place