|
| | HR1236 | | LRB100 23522 ALS 42689 r |
|
|
| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
|
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of |
| 3 | | Representatives wish to congratulate Pontiac Township High |
| 4 | | School (PTHS) on receiving national recognition from Special |
| 5 | | Olympics North America and ESPN for its efforts to provide |
| 6 | | inclusive sports and activities for all students; and
|
| 7 | | WHEREAS, Out of more than 400 Illinois schools |
| 8 | | participating in Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools |
| 9 | | programming, PTHS is one of four receiving national banner |
| 10 | | recognition; and
|
| 11 | | WHEREAS, To qualify for the Special Olympics award, the |
| 12 | | unified sports program had to meet ten strict criteria in areas |
| 13 | | related to youth engagement, unified sports, and whole-school |
| 14 | | involvement; the unified sports program also had to prove |
| 15 | | sustainability; the program is funded through an annual "Run |
| 16 | | for Respect 5k"; and
|
| 17 | | WHEREAS, PTHS began a Peers in Action Program in 1996 and |
| 18 | | joined Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools in 2012; the |
| 19 | | program has grown, and PTHS now offers Unified Soccer, Unified |
| 20 | | Basketball, Unified Bass Fishing, and Special Olympics Track |
| 21 | | and Field; and
|
|
| | HR1236 | - 2 - | LRB100 23522 ALS 42689 r |
|
|
| 1 | | WHEREAS, In addition to the athletic programs offered, the |
| 2 | | unified sports program involves the whole community through a |
| 3 | | "Fish for Respect" fishing tournament, a community day at Dairy |
| 4 | | Queen, and multiple other community-wide and county-wide |
| 5 | | initiatives; and
|
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Furthermore, the unified sports program at PTHS is |
| 7 | | being recognized by ESPN as the top school in Illinois for |
| 8 | | involving the school as a whole to create supportive classrooms |
| 9 | | and opportunities for growth for all students in addition to |
| 10 | | the sports opportunities, leadership opportunities, and other |
| 11 | | activities offered to Special Olympics athletes; and
|
| 12 | | WHEREAS, Despite the numerous successes of the program, |
| 13 | | PTHS is not resting; students, staff, administrators, and |
| 14 | | community members continue to brainstorm new ideas for |
| 15 | | inclusion; therefore, be it
|
| 16 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE |
| 17 | | HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we |
| 18 | | congratulate the students and staff of PTHS, as well as the |
| 19 | | supportive community of Pontiac, for achieving national |
| 20 | | recognition from Special Olympics North America and ESPN for |
| 21 | | their work providing opportunities in athletics, leadership, |
| 22 | | and social events for all students; and be it further
|
|
| | HR1236 | - 3 - | LRB100 23522 ALS 42689 r |
|
|
| 1 | | RESOLVED, That we wish them continued success in their |
| 2 | | efforts and hold PTHS as an example for other schools to |
| 3 | | follow; and be it further
|
| 4 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
| 5 | | delivered to the United Champion Schools Site Coordinator, |
| 6 | | Laura Baumgardner, as a symbol of our esteem and respect.
|