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Unified Champion Schools January 2023 Newsletter Brought to you by the Special Olympics Illinois Unified Champion Schools Team

“Winter forms our character and brings out our best.”

We hope you're excited for the new year as much as we are!

Here's what you need to know about UCS this month!

Keep reading below to see more information about the following:

  • IMPORTANT! Numbers forms are due!
  • Special Olympics PlayVS Unified Spring Season
  • Youth Leadership Experience @ Unified Basketball!
  • Unified Bass Fishing School Commitment Memo Due!
  • Respect Week 2023: Respect is Groovy
  • Unified Track and Field Important Dates and Deadlines!
  • Outreach Opportunities are Open!
  • UCS Dates and Deadlines for the Year!
  • Unified Policies and Facts!
  • Add to Your To Do List: Follow UCS on Social Media!
  • Tell us Something Good!

IMPORTANT! Numbers Reports are Due!

It’s that time of year again! Please take some time to complete your Midterm Numbers Report for the Fall Semester.

Please report on the numbers based on the descriptions in the form. All numbers should be collected from August – December.

All Midterm Numbers Reports should be submitted no later than January 23rd!

You can complete your Midterm Numbers Reports HERE.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at ucs@soill.org

Thank you for all you do! We look forward to receiving your reports!

Special Olympics PlayVS Unified Spring Season

Special Olympics Illinois is offering the PlayVS Unified season – which kicks off on February 13.

This season, PlayVS will be offering two different competitive leagues for 3v3 Rocket League (2 Special Olympics Illinois athletes & 1 Unified Partner) and 4v4 Mario Kart (2 Special Olympics Illinois athletes & 2 Unified Partners). Below is the full schedule for both game titles.

Schedule:

Registration Deadline: 2/10/23

Pre-Season: 1/30/23

Regular Season: 2/13/23

Playoffs:

Mario Kart: 4/12/23 – 4/26/23

Rocket League 4/13/22 – 4/27/23

Leagues:

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Wednesdays 4 PM CST

Rocket League – Thursdays 4 PM CST

Register for the Spring Special Olympics PlayVS Season here!

Youth Leadership Experience @ Unified Basketball!

Apply today to be a part of the Youth Leadership Experience at Unified Basketball! Student Leaders will get hands on event experience as well as an opportunity to learn more about event and sports management.

This is brand new leadership opportunity that we are excited to offer this spring!

Those who attend will need to be able to meet the UCS team in Champaign, IL on Thursday, March 9th and stay independently through Saturday, March 11th.

Athletes who attend will need to have a valid Medical Form on file with SOILL. Unified Partners who attend will need to have a valid Class A on file with SOILL.

All expenses outside of transportation to and from the experience and souvenirs are covered by Special Olympics Illinois.

Applications are due by February 15th!

Students can apply here today!

Questions? Contact us at UCS@soill.org!

Unified Bass Fishing School Commitment Memo Due!

If you are interested in securing a boat then please let Tracy Hilliard know as soon as possible and she will send you the Commitment Memo. Priority for boat slots will go to schools that are already registered as a Unified Champion School with Special Olympics Illinois. There are still slots open but they wont be for long!!

Please note that the special needs student(s) selected for Unified boats MUST have valid Medical & Consent Forms on file with Special Olympics Illinois. Special Olympics Illinois will confirm eligibility at the time the school requests a Unified boat slot.

Commitment Memos are due on February 3rd.

You can find our 2023 Unified Bass Fishing Flyer here and the 2023 Unified Bass Fishing Fact Sheet here.

Questions? Contact Tracy Hilliard at thilliard@soill.org.

RESPECT WEEK 2023: Respect is Groovy

We are very excited to celebrate Respect Week 2023 on February 27-March 3!

Be on the look out for the Respect Week Guidelines being sent out before the end of the month!

If you ordered Respect materials for your schools be on the lookout as orders will be arriving in over the next two weeks!

Questions? Contact us at ucs@soill.org.

Unified Track and Field Important Dates and Deadlines!

Maximum roster cannot exceed 24 players per team.

Roster shall contain a proportionate number of athletes and partners.

Unified Track Intent to Play Deadline – February 3, 2023

Unified Track Registration Deadline – March 31, 2023

Unified Track Scratch Deadline – April 12, 2023

Unified Track Times / Distance Deadline – April 12, 2023

Unified Regional Tournaments – April 24 - May 12, 2023-Locations TBD

IHSA Unified State Competition - May 25 - 27, 2023 at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL

NO MEALS OR HOUSING WILL BE PROVIDED FOR UNIFIED TRACK. If financial assistance for lodging, transportation, or meals is needed, please apply for an Outreach Opportunity and your situation will be considered.

Questions? Contact us at ucs@soill.org.

Outreach Opportunities are Open!

All Unified Champion Schools are welcome to apply for any Outreach Opportunity that will assist the school, classroom, or community in promoting Unification and Inclusion through sports, leadership, learning, and more!

Outreach Opportunities can be for anything from uniforms to a set of our Young Athletes Unified Reading Club Books, to equipment for Unified PE, to art supplies for a Unified craft!

Applications can be completed by Athletes, Partners, Teachers, or Administrators. We accept Outreach Opportunities on a rolling basis and review them monthly with a notification going out shortly after.

You can find the application here!

Questions? Contact us at UCS@soill.org

UCS Dates and Deadlines!

We have a TON of exciting things to look forward to this year - We know! We are as thrilled as you are!

Need to a calendar to keep dates and deadlines in order? Access our Google Calendar containing all Dates and Deadlines pertaining to anything Unified Champion Schools related. This includes Unified Sports, Youth Leadership, and Whole School Engagement opportunities.

You can access this calendar here.

Questions? Contact us at ucs@soill.org

UCS Policies and Facts!

Need more information on rules, facts, and gameday procedures? Look no further!

This information can be found within our Policies and Procedures Drive and Fact Sheet! This information houses all dates, deadlines, and procedures for our Unified Sports throughout the year.

You can find this Policies and Procedures file here.

We will always do our best through our Newsletters, email communications, and social media to keep you as up to date as possible on upcoming dates and deadlines for all things Unified.

You can find the Unified Tournament Competition Fact Sheet here.

Need more clarification? Contact us at ucs@soill.org

If you aren't already follow UCS on Social Media!

We are utilizing social media as a means to get out the most up to date information and promotions for all of you and your students.

Be sure to give us a follow to learn about up coming events, virtual opportunities, raffles, and so much more!

Follow us on Instagram here!

Follow our UCS Facebook page by clicking here.

Follow our Young Athletes Facebook page by clicking here.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here.

Questions? Contact us at UCS@soill.org

Tell us something good!

Share some Good News with us!

We want to hear from you! Share your success stories with us about this school year! Please send your stories to UCS@soill.org so that we can share your experiences with the rest of the community!

Created By
Jillian Hosteny
Appreciate