ROCKLAND - May 11, 2026 - The Rockland School Committee formalized its commitment to district-wide inclusion on Monday, announcing that the Esten Early Childhood Center has officially pledged to become a “Unified Champion School” through the Special Olympics. The initiative, which brings together students with and without disabilities for leadership and sports, is part of a broader effort to expand the model across all Rockland Public Schools to foster a culture of kindness and acceptance from the earliest grade levels..
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The meeting opened with a presentation from the “Curriculum Corner,” where Assistant Superintendent Jane Hackett introduced a new initiative for the Esten Early Childhood Center. Preschool teacher Jen Roback and Marcia Beatty presented the center’s new status as a Unified Champion School, a program sanctioned by the Special Olympics that focuses on social inclusion through three main pillars: inclusive youth leadership, whole-school engagement, and unified sports.
Roback explained that while the middle and high schools already participate, bringing the program to the preschool and kindergarten levels allows the district to build foundational social-emotional skills like teamwork and empathy from the start of a student’s education. The initiative will culminate in a Unified Sports Day scheduled for June 1, 2026, where students will participate in five activity stations, including a water balloon toss, soccer, and an obstacle course.
“A unified champion school is a program that serves students from pre-K through the university level... Our aim is to create an accepting, inclusive school environment where every student feels valued and supported.” [00:10:54] — Jen Roback, Esten Preschool Teacher
