Special Olympics Washington named Martin Sortun Elementary as a National Special Olympics Unified Champion School® and honoured the staff and students with a banner in recognition of their efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students of all abilities. Martin Sortun is receiving this distinguished status as a result of meeting ten national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. Martin Sortun in the first elementary school in the state of Washington to receive this prestigious honor.
On Wednesday, March 19, an event was held at Martin Sortun to present the banner to students and staff. Four students from the Kentwood High School Unified program emceed the event and spoke about why participating in inclusive sports was meaningful to them. Mr. Ray Roberts, a former Seahawks player, from Special Olympics led the students in several uplifting and empowering chants, filling the atmosphere with positivity and energy. He also shared about the Special Olympics program and how important inclusivity is for all students. Martin Sortun Physical Education teacher Marla Taylor spoke about the importance of having the program at her school:
“I am so grateful for the staff at the Special Olympics, the Kent School District, and Martin Sortun for supporting me in getting this program started. Kindness, inclusion, and making sure everyone belongs are key tenets of this initiative and I hope that these values continue to shine in our community going forward.”
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Wade Barringer said a few words of appreciation, and Superintendent Vela read a proclamation from the City of Kent recognizing Martin Sortun.
Students who participated in the program were recognized, and some also shared their thoughts. “I like the Unified program because the coaches push us to our limits in a good way but they are also really supportive of everyone,” one student said.
With the help of Cool Bird from the Thunderbirds and the Kentwood mascot, the banner was unveiled to much fanfare to close the ceremony. Congratulations to Martin Sortun for leading the way in this important endeavor and showcasing the values of what OneCommunity means in our district.