Earlier this month, the Special Olympics New York announced that Sayville High School received a national banner of recognition for its efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without intellectual disabilities.

Sayville High School received this distinguished status as a result of meeting 10 national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from the Special

Olympics and the education committee.

The primary activities within these standards include Special Olympics Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities train and compete as teammates; inclusive youth leadership; and whole school engagement. National banner schools should also demonstrate they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to sustain these activities into the future.

“Our Special Olympics Unified Champion Banner Schools are some of the best and brightest havens for inclusion, not just in our state, but throughout our country,” said Special Olympics New York president and CEO Stacey Hengsterman. “It’s our honor to recognize them for all they’ve done, and all they’ll continue to do.”

Sayville High School is now one of just 36 national banner schools statewide.

On Friday, Nov. 8, the students and teachers who worked to achieve this status were recognized during halftime of the varsity football game.