Morongo Unified School District is celebrating a significant milestone in its commitment to inclusion as Yucca Valley High School and Joshua Tree Elementary School have both been recognized as National Banner Unified Champion Schools by Special Olympics.
“We are incredibly proud of Yucca Valley High School and Joshua Tree Elementary School, as well as the students and staff who made this recognition possible,” said Morongo Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Patricio Vargas. “This achievement reflects something much bigger than a program. It represents a commitment to building school communities where every student is seen, valued, included and given the opportunity to contribute.”
The National Banner designation is the highest level of recognition for Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, honoring schools that demonstrate a sustained commitment to social inclusion, leadership, respect and belonging. To earn the designation, both schools fulfilled 10 national standards of excellence evaluated by Special Olympics staff and a national certifying body. The recognition is awarded for four years.
The achievement reflects years of work across Morongo Unified to create opportunities for students of all abilities to participate, lead, build relationships and experience a genuine sense of belonging. The program centers on three core areas: Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership and Whole-School Engagement.
For Yucca Valley High School, the recognition marks an important milestone in a journey that began during the 2018–2019 school year, when YVHS became the starting point for Unified within Morongo Unified School District.
“Jamie and I have had the privilege of watching, building, and growing Unified in our district from the very beginning,” said YVHS Unified leader Angela Gay. “What started with one Unified PE class and a belief that students of all abilities deserve opportunities to belong, participate, lead and be celebrated has grown into something bigger than we ever could have imagined.”
Since then, YVHS has expanded its Unified PE program, established Unified Leadership, hosted inclusion-focused events and created opportunities for students with and without disabilities to compete, lead and advocate for inclusion. These efforts have included Unified Sports competitions in flag football, soccer, kickball and track and field, as well as events such as the Unified Champions Pep Assembly and Disability Awareness Fair.
The growth of Unified at YVHS has also helped inspire programs at other schools throughout the district. Joshua Tree Elementary School’s National Banner recognition represents an important next step in that growth, bringing the values of inclusion and belonging to students at an earlier stage of their education.
“YVHS may have helped pave the road, but the greatest reward is watching others travel it, build upon it and take Unified even further,” said Jamie Wright. “Seeing Joshua Tree Elementary receive this recognition is what Jamie and I hoped for from the beginning—to see Unified grow throughout Morongo Unified so that students experience belonging and inclusion from elementary school through high school and beyond.” added Gay.
Morongo Unified School District congratulates the students, educators, families and community members at both Yucca Valley High School and Joshua Tree Elementary School on this accomplishment and for their continued commitment to creating schools where every student is valued and included.
“Inclusion starts with an opportunity, grows through relationships and becomes powerful when an entire community believes that everyone belongs.”