WOODLAND — Woodland High School recently hosted its first unified basketball game, an event designed to bring together students from the special education program and their general education peers to create a spirit of sportsmanship and unity. Students at Woodland High School gathered to cheer on the inaugural unified basketball game during a schoolwide assembly.
The project was led by school counselor Catherine Pulliam and Diverse Support Program teacher Alex Onslow. All Diverse Support Program students were offered the opportunity to participate.
“As part of the Special Olympics, I’ve seen dozens, if not hundreds, of unified sports games across the state, and the crowd and enthusiasm in Woodland was the best I’ve seen at any event,” said Ryan Balara, a staff member in the Diverse Support Program. Jeff Bockert, a school counselor, agreed with Balara, saying, “This was quite possibly the best assembly I’ve seen in 20 years of working in education.”
Onslow and her Diverse Support Program team plan to bring unified soccer to Woodland High School in the fall.
