Trail Ridge Middle School began focusing on creating a school that focused on the inclusion of all students roughly four years ago. On Wednesday, the school was inducted into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame.
Chaka Sutton, chief outreach officer and senior vice president of sports for Special Olympics, visited the middle school on Wednesday to share the news. During the school’s inclusion assembly, Sutton shared his definition of inclusion.
“Inclusion, by definition, is the practice of providing equal access and opportunity and resources for people who may be excluded or left out,” Sutton said.
This week has been identified as Inclusion Week at Trail Ridge, including two unified basketball games and other activities.
While the week has been labeled Inclusion Week, the school celebrates including all students in all activities. Students who want to participate in sports and clubs have the opportunity.
“They have come a long way in building up all of this work. The school wasn’t focused on inclusivity before but now the students are able to see what it means to have a disability and see the kids out in the community and so we are able to bridge that gap for families,” said Laura Hess, executive director of special education for St. Vrain Valley Schools.
The inclusionary work at Trail Ridge is a model that has been expanded to other schools in the district, Hess said. This work teaches students how to relate to all types of people which creates an inclusive community.
“This is just one other inspiration for all our other schools to see that they can be unified champions,” Hess said.
To qualify as a Hall of Fame school, the school must be recognized nationally and exemplify characteristics valued by Special Olympics. Trail Ridge was named as a National Banner Champion Unified School in 2022. At the time it was one of four schools in the state and one of 160 in the nation to receive the award.
According to Sutton, Trail Ridge has done a great job including students in all offered activities and celebrating all students. This was displayed by including all students in the assembly, hanging encouraging posters on the walls for all team members and developing activities that appeal to a range of interests and abilities.