• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newcast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Wayzata Students Stress the Importance of Inclusion

4:57 PM | Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Wayzata High School is known for its academic reputation, but even the smartest and brightest can’t turn down an opportunity to sign up for a gym class that involves being outside on a beautiful day.

“It just shows by the number of kids that sign up for this class and can’t get in. It’s full. All year,” said Mike Doyle, Wayzata’s adaptive physical education teacher.

The class is full, not just because the students get to play bocce ball outdoors, but because this Unified Physical Education class mixes general education students like Mimi Schrader with special education students like Joey Sueker.

“Before my sophomore year, I didn’t really know a lot. We didn’t pass each other in passing time,” Schrader said. “And so this is the first time I really got to meet them and get to know them. And now I see them in the hallways, and a simple ‘hello,’ it makes my day and it also makes their day.”

“I’ve enjoyed being in this class and doing all the fun activities,” Sueker said.

Unified PE is now in its third year. It’s a class that came about after staff at Wayzata decided that physical education would be the best place to unite the populations.

“They can learn how to cooperate. They can learn how to problem solve. They can learn how to communicate,” Doyle said.

Students Wanted To Do More

Yet Schrader wanted more, so she helped establish ‘Club Unified Students,’ also known as ‘Club US.’

The organization creates opportunities both inside and outside of school for the two populations to be together.

“I’ve seen our lunchroom change,” Schrader said. “Kids used to sit by themselves in the lunchroom, and now they’re scattered all across the lunchroom, eating with their new friends. So stuff like that is just what makes it worth it.”

Meanwhile, Sueker is an active member of Club US, but this duo’s involvement in the cause extends beyond the walls of Wayzata High School.

Schrader and Sueker also serve on the student board of Special Olympics Minnesota. This past summer, the two delivered the keynote speech at the National Student Council Conference, where they talked about the importance of inclusion.

“We plan weekend outings like going out for ice cream, going out for movies,” Schrader said during the conference.

The ultimate goal with the unified movement is to create a culture shift that changes how people judge and treat those with disabilities.

“Because everyone’s a person. Everyone has feelings,” Schrader said. “And to not feel included is something that no one wants.”

Schrader, by the way, is also a star basketball player. She’s committed to play basketball at the United States Naval Academy, and then serve in the military after graduation.

Meanwhile, Sueker says he’d like to one day get a job with Special Olympics.

Delane Cleveland, reporting
Wayzata High School

Plymouth

Standout Student

Related Stories

Plymouth Approves Lane Reduction on Schmidt Lake Road, Aims to Reduce Crashes:  Home construction on… Read More
Edibles, Beverages, Containing THC Now Legal in Minnesota:  A new state law that went into effect on… Read More
Hennepin County Monitors Water Quality on Local Lakes Weekly:  Hennepin County public health staff… Read More
Plymouth Celebrates with ‘Happy Birthday America Parade’:  Families marched in the Happy Birthday… Read More
New MN Office of Public Engagement Aims to Reduce Racial Job Disparities:  MN DEED Announces Launch of… Read More
Jury Selection Set to Begin This Week in Trial of Accused Highway 169 Shooter:  Jury Selection to… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2022 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in