Have you heard about the Unified classes or seen them listed on PLHS’s course catalog? There’s a chance you haven’t, as the 2024-2025 school year is only the first year they have been offered here at Prior Lake. However, thoughts about offering Unified classes at Prior Lake actually began several years ago.
A proposal to implement Unified PE was even made, but Ms. Ring, one of PLHS’s speech pathologists, recalls that it could not become an official course at the time because “There weren’t enough logistics set in place to do so – it takes a lot of buy-in and commitment from staff, students and admin.”
Nevertheless, the push continued, and Shakopee’s Unified program was also supportive. A couple of years after the first, the next proposal was created, and it was approved after being presented to the school board.
However, getting the approval was not the only challenge, as there was some concern over what materials/equipment would be needed, if enough students would join, and if there would be enough staff to run everything smoothly.
Unified Phy. Ed. was part of the initial proposal and marked a great starting point because Special Olympics already provides a curriculum for it. The team working to get the Unified classes up and running decided to stick with it.
In addition, the group also settled on a Unified FACs class to offer to PLHS students because, according to Ms. Ring, “The FACs teachers were super open to the idea and FACs, especially cooking, is such a functional task for the students taking the class.
After the courses were decided on, teachers expressed their interest, and special education supports were also chosen by which services to the students made the most sense. The Unified PE Class teachers are Mrs. Lorenzen, Mr. Fearing, and Ms. Head, while the Unified FACs class teachers are Ms. Kohlbeck and Ms. Ring.
So far, the Unified PE class has had many successes, and the Unified FACs class surely will as well when it starts up in quarter 3. Each PE class, ranging from 20-35 students, allows those with disabilities and those without to make connections.
For example, the classes begin with walk and talks that have led to students feeling comfortable enough with each other to interact outside of class.
And, as the class uses a buddy system to pair students with and without disabilities together, the students without disabilities learn different ways to communicate and work with their peers. Ms. Ring even mentions that “It is the highlight of the day for a lot of students and staff.”
Although as of right now PLHS only offers Unified PE and FACs, Ms. Ring hopes that “There is enough buy-in from students and staff to expand,” so Unified art, industrial tech, music, theater, and other classes can be added.
If you did not know about the classes in time for registration last year, consider them for the 2025-2026 school year! Also, consider joining the Unified Club!
Originally, less than a decade ago, PLHS’s Charlotte Huntington took a look at other school districts embracing being unified and wanted to offer PLHS students the same opportunity. So, the Unified Club was created and still exists today.
Right now, it organizes before and after-school social events typically organized through their GroupMe. Currently, the club has a student board that meets each month to plan and prepare the various Unified events.
Also meeting monthly is a Unified district-led team with various staff to discuss the needs and supports in the district as well as what opportunities have been implemented and what more could be offered to support Unified’s expansion and the inclusive environment it promotes.
Both the Unified club and team share the goal of expanding inclusion, and Ms. Ring has felt incredibly proud that “The students have really jumped on board and are passionate about the inclusive movement.
They are talking about the benefits and positives to the classes, events, and opportunities, and they are choosing to live out the purpose of Unified.”
In fact, PLHS has been named a Special Olympics Unified Champion school, meaning that “We as a school are committing to creating a more inclusive environment and we are committed to creating opportunities to do so.”
Clearly, the staff recognizes how important inclusivity is and continues to try and create opportunities for students to engage, but it’s necessary that improvement keeps being made and growth of student involvement and commitment continues.
