OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. - Old Saybrook Middle School has earned national banner recognition as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School, recognizing its work to provide inclusive sports, leadership, and schoolwide activities for students with and without intellectual disabilities.
National banner recognition is awarded to schools that meet 10 standards of excellence developed by leaders from the Special Olympics and the education community. The standards address three connected areas: Special Olympics Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole-school engagement.
At Old Saybrook Middle School, Unified programming spans all three athletic seasons and includes various social events. During the 2025-26 school year, Old Saybrook Middle School reported 51 Unified Sports members, including 24 students with intellectual disabilities. In addition to competing athletically, these students came together often to participate in events such as a March Mario Kart tournament and bowling trips, while the broader school celebrated the team with a hallway parade and Basketball Mania.
Among the many criteria for national recognition, banner schools must be able to demonstrate a plan for sustaining their Unified program. Old Saybrook achieves this standard by committing to an annual budget line for equipment, transportation and coaching stipends. Old Saybrook Middle School also boasts a popular Unified Physical Education course, introduced during the 2018–19 school year, and now a permanent elective for students in grades 6 through 8.
Old Saybrook Middle School teacher Michelle Marenna organizes the Unified Out and About Club, which gives students additional opportunities to build friendships through bowling, hikes, trips to a corn maze and other shared activities.
“I am proud of the school climate and culture our students and staff have built through programs like Unified Sports,” said Superintendent Chris Drezek. “Our teachers and students have made inclusion part of everyday school life, not just something we celebrate at a game or event. I commend them for that work and for helping make Old Saybrook Middle School a place where everyone belongs.”
James Hespeler, Old Saybrook Middle School teacher and Unified Sports coach, prepared the application for recognition, documenting the program’s growth, student participation and ongoing support from the district. The school expects its national recognition banner to arrive within the month where it will be permanently displayed for all students, staff, and community members to view.
