Tabor Academy is a Unified Champion School!

Tabor Academy has long had a celebrated relationship with the Special Olympics of Massachusetts, SOMA, and this fall the affiliation is stronger than ever. The School by the Sea has once again been recognized as a Unified Champion School for upholding and demonstrating the values and mission of Special Olympics.

“It’s a pretty big deal and a wonderful accomplishment,” shares Merrie-Beth Cleary, the faculty advisor of the Special Olympics Club. The banner status was earned for the events the Tabor Special Olympics Board sponsored last year, which included the Polar Plunge and Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. The group of students also hosted a movie night where they streamed The Peanut Butter Falcon, which offered Seawolves the opportunity to engage in conversation and education about developmental disabilities. Additionally, the Tabor Special Olympics Board hosted a Young Athletes Program, ages 2-12, every Sunday on campus for nine weeks this past spring.

Cleary received a letter from Patti Doherty, Vice President of School and Community Partnerships of Special Olympics Massachusetts, regarding Tabor’s Unified Champion School status. “Your school community has successfully accomplished this status by implementing unified sports, inclusive youth leadership opportunities, and whole school engagement. These rich opportunities are leading to meaningful change in creating a socially inclusive school that supports and engages all learners,” wrote Doherty.

The banner recognizing this accomplishment was on display during the Special Olympics event at the Fall Day of Service on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. In addition to the School Day Games, there were additional opportunities for students on the Day of Service. Some traveled to Round the Bend Farm to harvest potatoes and weed asparagus, others read to middle school students at Sippican School, one group cleaned up the beach at Fort Phoenix, and another helped at Gifts to Give. Whether participating on or off campus, students embodied Tabor’s mission of fostering care for others and committed citizenship. The Fall Day of Service was a great example of how Seawolves show up! Check out some scenes from the Fall Day of Service in the slideshow below.