This season, NSHS is adding to our athletics programs. The Unified Strength and Conditioning team is a new team supported by the MIAA and in association with Special Olympics of MA. The Unified Strength and Conditioning team is offered across the state as a pilot for this year. It strives to promote climates of dignity, respect, and inclusion for students beyond the classroom. This team is a competitive program that will involve winning and losing scenarios. The primary focus is to gain new skills, reach personal goals, and to participate on a team that represents NSHS.

Sports Specifics: 

1. Being a Unified Athlete: Unified Sports emphasizes the importance of being a TEAM, by showing respect and supporting your fellow teammates; working to improve as equals.
2. Ratio: Unified Strength and Conditioning is a team of High School students, with a 50-50 ratio of students with and without IDD (intellectual developmental disabilities).
3. Practices: Are remote and once a week after school, during the Winter season. Starting Monday, January 13, 2021, and ending February 21. (Wednesdays from 4:30 – 5:30)
4. Exercises: Each athlete will compete by tracking their personal growth in 7 exercises throughout the season.
5. Scoring: Each athlete’s progression is recorded at three different times during the season with points awarded for improvement. The team total is then compiled and submitted to the MIAA; where it is then compared against other participating MA teams. A champion school is then determined from all participating team’s scores.
6. Coaches: Familiar unified coaches Mr. Strongin and Mr. Deleskey will be leading our athletes to train and compete together on Zoom meetings.

All student performance contributes to the overall team success. (Not just the fastest or strongest athlete).  To participate, students need to make the following commitments:

1. Participate in all Zoom practices held after school for 1 hour.
2. Register on Family ID before Thursday, January 7.
3. PHYSICAL EXAMS: All students must have a current health physical on file in the nurses’ office. Submit to: kiritsyk@newton.k12.ma.us / kramerg@newton.k12.ma.us
4. CONCUSSION AWARENESS TRAINING: Concussion class links are located on this page on the right-side panel. Please view the class before completing the registration.
5. All participating students must display appropriate behaviors, be tolerant of all participants, and enjoy working out!

Unified Sports was first developed by Special Olympics, as a means of providing a quality sports experience for training and competition in an inclusive environment that enables friendships to form. Unified Strength and Conditioning is a new opportunity for Unified Athletes and Partners to connect, compete, and continue developing a great community during these interesting times. Similar to our other NSHS unified programs, we strive for inclusion. We firmly believe that the opportunity to participate in education-based athletics is a unique and important part of our culture. All of our students deserve this amazing experience.

Students and families interested in this program should contact Mr. Strongin and Mr. Deleskey.  This pilot program is free at this time.