Last year, Manheim Township welcomed a new class to the high school under the guidance of music teacher Mrs. Samantha Haldeman— Unified Music. Unified Music is an elective course where students of all ability levels come together to not only create music but also perform, respond and connect with music.
What exactly makes this course so special: Is it the people, the teacher or the activities?
According to senior Abby DeHart, “Being with Mrs. Haldeman and learning from her” is one of the most influential aspects to the course. Having a supportive but also dedicated teacher is crucial to make the best learning experience for everyone. Meanwhile, freshman Alyssa Hess finds that being able to play different instruments, like the drums, carry the class to higher inclusivity.
“This course shows how inclusive everyone can be. It gives students a sense of belongingness,” said junior Jazmine Martin. Belonging is important to every person and with these classes, it is possible for more people to feel like they belong in the school environment.
Special Education students typically stay together with their own classroom and curriculum to cover over the school year. Unified education gives students a chance to interact with people they do not always see everyday but also takes away stigma from special education students. These courses broaden students’ understanding of learning abilities and needs, which is why Haldeman suggests Unified Music is a fantastic opportunity for students who want to pursue education in (music and special education), or health care (nursing and therapies).
There are also many people like paraprofessionals and nurses that work behind the scenes to make sure everything goes smoothly, including Mrs. G, Mrs. MacLachlan, Miss Holly, Miss Erin, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Wiley, Miss Patty and more. These adults help students but also participate in activities, making the environment more fun and diverse.
Unified Music is not the only unified course or sport throughout the school. Elective courses you can join for the next school year include Unified Art, Unified Gym and Unified Music. Sports you can join are Unified Bocce and Unified Track and Field. Bocce will occur during the winter, so keep an eye out for information once the fall sports season starts to wrap up. Track and Field will occur during the spring, as a result information will be available in the new year after winter sports come to a close.
“These programs are providing incredible opportunities for our students to work together and foster an environment of inclusivity, empathy, understanding, kindness and joy,” said Haldeman.
Overall, Unified classes help to foster a positive and inclusive environment for every student in the school.
