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Elementary Programs

SCHOOL HUB

Welcome to the Elementary Schools Hub, your ultimate resource centre for all things Special Olympics!

Welcome!

Whether you're an educator, board rep, coach, or team member, this hub is designed to provide you with easy access to essential information and support to ensure a smooth and successful experience. Explore our comprehensive sections below to stay informed, prepared, and engaged throughout the exciting journey to creating inclusive school spaces.  

Updates

Welcome back to the SOO family, everyone! Start by checking out what’s in store for you this year. Explore our attached booklet filled with exciting new events, initiatives, and programs.

Click to view the program booklet

Events & Virtual Sessions

Health & Fitness Series

Weekly from September 2024 - August 2025

Special Olympics Ontario is excited to launch a free Dance & Fitness series for students, starting September 12th. Every other Thursday from 12:00 to 1:00 PM, join us for a live mobility and exercise class exclusively for SOO students. Beginning September 18th, a bi-weekly live dance class will also take place on Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. All sessions will be recorded and available on Zoom.

You can easily register for these sessions through your school year registration form. Don’t miss out on these fun and engaging opportunities to stay active!

Bi-Weekly Fitness/Mobility: Thursdays, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Click here to join on Zoom
Meeting ID: 860 3281 9251

Bi-Weekly Dance: Wednesdays, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Click here to join on Zoom
Meeting ID: 892 5181 8110

(Note: While elementary schools are welcome to participate, please note that these sessions are currently tailored for high school students.)

Inclusive Schools (Educator) Conference

October 18th to 20th (Registration closes Sept 18)

SOO is excited to announce the launch of its first-ever Provincial Inclusive Schools Conference, happening from October 18th to 20th at Camp Muskoka. This free event is open to all Ontario educators involved or planning to be involved in Special Olympics this school year. With limited spots available, registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis until September 18th. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to network, collaborate, and develop strategies for creating inclusive school communities. Click here to register and learn more. 

First 40 schools registered will be allowed to take a max of two reps from their school. The remaining will be capped at 1 representative per school (we have limited space so register early). Cap Per Region: Northern Ontario - 15 educators (Thunder Bay Cap 5), Eastern Ontario 30, Southwest Ontario 20, Central Ontario 20, South Central 20, GTA – 25.

View Flyer

SOO Virtual Welcome Back Conference Call

Thursday, September 19th @ 5pm

Special Olympics Ontario will provide an overview of what to expect this coming school year, introduce our new initiatives, and answer any questions you may have.

Thursday, September 19th 5:00– 6:00pm

Click here to join on Microsoft Teams 
Meeting ID: 223 517 312 922
Passcode: Lsrvsx

Join Meeting

SOO Virtual Parent & Guardian Info Night

Thursday, September 26th @ 5:30pm

Special Olympics Ontario invites all parents and guardians to learn more about the opportunities available for their children through Special Olympics. Join us to discover how your child can get involved and benefit from our programs.

September 26th 5:30 – 6:30pm

Click here to join on Microsoft Teams 
Meeting ID: 299 457 390 576
Passcode: s7HRyZ

Join Meeting

Virtual Welcome Week

October 7 - 10, 2024

More information coming soon! 

Challenges Information Sheet (coming soon)
Welcome Week Handout (coming soon)

Virtual Fun Fitness Week

February 3 - 6, 2025

More information coming soon! 

Challenges Information Sheet (coming soon)
Fun Fitness Week Handout (coming soon)

Winter Welcome Back Call

Monday, February 3rd @ 5pm

SOO will provide updates on the remainder of the school year.

February 3rd 5:00 – 600pm

Click here to join on Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 254 310 678 218
Passcode: Nuguae

Join Meeting

Virtual Multisport Week

May 12 - 15, 2025

More information coming soon! 

Challenges Information Sheet (coming soon)
Multisport Week Handout (coming soon)

    Communications

    Emails

    SOO Announcements – Monthly
    Schools will receive province-wide email announcements and reminders on the second Monday of each month.

    Regional Communications – Monthly
    Schools will receive an invitation email from their regional contact for each local event, followed by a reminder email approximately 10 days prior. After registration, a participant email with event details will be sent 5-6 days before the event. Additional communications may occur for special events and programs available in the community.

    Newsletters

    Stay updated on all things Special Olympics by subscribing to our bi-monthly newsletter. Click Here to subscribe and keep informed about School Championships, award winners, qualifications, news, and opportunities. (Please check your “Other” mailbox or junk folder if you don’t see it.)

    WhatsApp

    Join our official WhatsApp group for educators to connect with teachers across the province. This platform promotes collaboration, engagement, and communication within the Special Olympics community. It’s where SOO shares updates, resources, and news, and gathers feedback.

    Click here to join the Special Olympics Educator WhatsApp Community
    The Community Includes:

    • General Announcements (One-Way) – Key updates from SOO.
    • Regional/District Chats (Two-Way) – Connect with fellow teachers in specific areas; check descriptions for city details.
    • Connective Space for Parents – A dedicated area for parent engagement.
    Join community

    Facebook Group

    Connect and share stories with the SOO community through our Special Olympics Educator Facebook Group. Click here to join.

    Join group

    Registration

    Special Olympics Ontario has introduced a temporary registration process for this school year, with plans to implement a streamlined system next fall. All schools must complete their team and coach intake registration forms before participating in any SOO events. Following the initial registration, schools will need to complete additional event-specific forms as required. Please follow the steps below to register for the 2024/25 school year:

    2024/2025 Registration Instructions

    Note this process varies slightly between new and returning schools. New schools will be sent a blank form link. Returning schools will be sent a form with partial information to verify.

    Active Start & FUNdamentals

    Active Start & FUNdamentals focuses on the progressive development of foundational movement, sport, and teamwork skills, providing students with essential building blocks for future success.

    To support new schools, SOO will supply Active Start & FUNdamentals booklets and shirts, helping educators integrate these valuable programs into their curriculum. These resources can be seamlessly incorporated into classroom activities, allowing students to engage in physical education while also fostering teamwork and cooperation.

    Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in local community programs that run these activities in select areas. For further support, a series of online resources and activities are available, ensuring that educators have a wealth of materials at their disposal to enhance their teaching and engage their students.

    Active Start & FUNdamentals Session Plan
    Active Start Activities
    FUNdamentals Activities

    Sport Festivals

    Sport Festivals serve as an introduction to Special Olympics for our youngest athletes, emphasizing the development of physical literacy and movement confidence. These events are specifically designed for students in the Active Start and FUNdamentals stages of the Long-Term Development Model, offering a day filled with opportunities to explore and engage in a variety of sport and activity stations.

    Below is an outline of the day’s schedule and potential activity stations to give participants a clear idea of what to expect.

    Sport Festival Flyer
    Group Games and Activities
    Intermediate Programming
    Coming soon

    Special Olympics Ontario now offers sport development progression programming for students in grades 6, 7, and 8.

    In select regions, SOO hosts basketball and bocce events that focus on skill development and gameplay. These events are designed to help students build essential sport skills, foster teamwork, and experience competition in a fun and supportive environment, preparing them for participation in SOO high school sports.

    Event Calendar

    Hosting & Resources

    Are you interested in hosting or volunteering at an event? Please begin by filling out the applicable form and review the information below to learn more:
    Host Form
    Volunteer Form
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    This school year, we are excited to offer more health programs and resources to students than ever before. Health programs are designed to enhance the physical health, social skills, and emotional well-being of Special Olympics athletes. Through the SOFitNow app, athletes can engage in fun challenges, track their progress, and work towards personalized fitness goals.

    Program Highlights:

    • Physical Health: Focus on nutritious eating, improving fitness, and adopting active lifestyles.
    • Social & Emotional Well-being: Strengthen social skills and overall mental health.
    • Challenges: Participate in exciting challenges like the Fit5 and Step Challenges, designed to keep athletes motivated.
    Healthy Athletes Info Booklet
    SOFitNow Information Package and User Guide

    Mentorship Program

    SOO will launch its new educator mentorship program later this year. The program is centered around creating a sustainable foundation for inclusive schools, cultures, and Special Olympics programming in schools.

    Prospective mentors can indicate their interest in mentoring a fellow teacher on the intake form. Educators who wish to get some support building up their program, are looking for a colleague to bounce ideas off, or if you are new to Special Olympics, you can indicate your interest in having a peer mentor on the form as well.

    Special Olympics will pair mentors with mentees in the same region where possible. Mentors are given a great deal of flexibility in how they choose to support their peers. The only requirement is that mentors arrange quarterly check-in meetings and be available to answer questions throughout the school year. SOO will provide a mentorship package with some suggested material to cover; however, this is at the mentor's discretion. Mentors will be provided a $100 gift card (Sobeys or Tim Hortons) annually for their support.

    In cases where there is no local mentor, SOO staff will take on a mentorship role.

    Join our community! 

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    Community Programs

    In almost every local community Special Olympics runs volunteer driven sport-based programs for students outside of schools. With 18 sports offered each region has its own program offerings. Play while you’re in school, play after you graduate and play for the rest of your life. See our community programs page to find a program near you:
    Our Communities

    Connect with us!