The inclusive atmosphere at Hempfield Area High school has been beneficial for students in Amanda Montell’s autistic support classroom.
They love to work with their peers and build their social skills, she said.
“They are just so excited to be included,” Montell said.
The collaboration, often in the form of sports, helps students outside of her classroom, too.
“Just by talking to them, they grow patience, they grow in their kindness, they grow in their acceptance of individuals that aren’t like them,” Montell said.
The school is among about two dozen schools statewide that have earned banners — including Franklin Regional, Mt. Pleasant Area and Norwin — as a National Unified Champion School from Special Olympics of Pennsylvania.
At Hempfield Area the banner, unveiled by sophomore Autumn Kubic and junior Peyton Long, will join others hung around the gym honoring championships for sports such as rifle, football, bowling and track and field.
Superintendent Mark Holtzman praised high schoolers and staff members for leading the effort, calling it an honor to be recognized.
“This is just one more measure of success when it comes to our students,” he said.
Schools that earn the honor have demonstrated a commitment to inclusion primarily through unified sports teams where students with and without disabilities train and compete as teammates. Banner status lasts for four years and then schools can reapply. Special Olympics of Pennsylvania CEO and President Matt Aaron said Hempfield Area has unified track and field and bocce teams in addition to other inclusive activities and groups.
“Today’s recognition for you is something unique,” he told students during a recent assembly.
Montell celebrated with teachers and students, some of whom participated in a raucous rock, paper, scissors competition during the assembly. She and a co-teacher work with a group of eight students in the autism support classroom.
“It’s a huge honor to be recognized,” she said. “This recognition today just shows the student body that we are making the right steps and doing the right thing.”