b'TEAM SPOTLIGHT- FALL 2019[Publish Date]TEAM SPOTLIGHTGrandview High School Unified CheerleadingChristina Maccarrone Head Cheerleading CoachTheGrandviewUnifiedCheerleadingprogramhalftimeperformance,leaguecompetition started in 2010 with 18 athletes, it was the pioneerexhibition performance, team dinners and year end programforunifiedsportsatGrandviewHighbanquet. Our goal is to have the unified portion of School. The programs purpose was to bridge theour program included in the majority of things that gap between mainstream students and those withwe do with our Varsity cheerleaders. specialneeds.TheunifiedcheerleadingprogramEachathletewithspecialneedsispairedwitha has not only done that, but it has become a placeVarsityCheerleader atthebeginningoftheyear where we accept each other, look forward to seeingduring our partner reveal. The partner reveal has each other, and develop friendships outside of thebecomeaneventthatathletesandtheirparents program many which have lasted for years. lookforwardto.Thereveal is alwaysdone ina We started the 2019-2020 season two weeks agospecial way and gives partners and their parents a with over 45 athletes. The program that was startedtime to introduce themselves and become familiar over 9 years ago has almost tripled in size. Thiswith each other and their abilities. growth started with a vision and has been carriedOur first official practice athletes establish a hand out by many with a passion to foster relationshipsshake that they can do throughout the year to make with athletes surrounding a sport that we all love,aconnectionatcheer,inthehallsatschool,or cheerleading.maybeoutsidecheeralltogether.ASimple The unified cheer program meets once a week forhandshake can go a long way to feel included with practice, during this time we practice material, andeachotherandtoexhibittoothersthatbeing spendtimegettingtoknoweachotherthroughinclusive of each other is important.games etc. Our unified team has matching practiceIf you ask any of our Varsity athletes what they wear,bows,uniforms,cardecals,yardsigns, warmupsetc.The unifiedteamperformsthe1 st loved about their season, before they even mention quarter of all home football games, participates inhowsuccessfultheirseasonmayhavebeen thehomecomingpepassembly,homecomingcompetitively, they will almost always point to our unified program first.'