As course selection draws nearer, many students at North Penn are overwhelmed by the daunting task of choosing from what appears to be an endless list of courses—especially when many aren’t familiar with all that this high school has to offer. Unified P.E is a new edition to North Penn’s roster of classes and could be a wonderful choice for anyone who wants to participate in something really special. This new class brings different groups together, fosters creativity and connection, and most importantly, makes any day a little bit brighter. 

“Unified PE is a course for everybody. It is not confined to one student or another. It’s students with intellectual and physical disabilities and students without intellectual and physical disabilities working together in a comprehensive P.E. style class,” Physical Education teacher Mrs. Panaski stated. 

Taught by Mrs. Panaski and Mr. Groff, the two faculty members were driven to create a course that reflected what North Penn is all about. Both saw the potential for a class that so many students showed interest in with other clubs and activities. 

“This is my twenty-first year teaching in the district. I had noticed that we had a Special Olympics program, so there was always a huge vibe around the track of getting students who wanted to be involved with that program. I realized there was a need to have more opportunities for students to work together because there are some athletes that can’t double up in sports. For instance, you can’t play on the basketball team and play Unified Bocce at the same time. Unified P.E actually gives these students an opportunity to work with students with intellectual and physical disabilities,” Panaski said. 

This drive to create a space for interested students to socialize with others took a long time. In fact, the process wasn’t an easy one.

“We actually tried to pilot this class the year the pandemic happened. We took seniors who had early release and asked and begged them to try this course, but unfortunately, in March 2020, everything kind of fell down. The class would have pushed through a lot faster if the pandemic didn’t happen. Since we were hybrid, it was very hard to teach this class online, but we finally got the green light last year in the fall,” Panaski stated. 

Despite officially being a new course this year, many students came flocking to sign up for it which even surprised Panaski herself. The popularity of the course, she hopes, will continue into next year. 

“I did not think we would have five classes this year, and people pushing to be in it. I teach three classes, and Mr. Groff teaches two. It gives students not just the fitness side, but the social skills too. It’s really cool. It has definitely opened my eyes to how much this course was needed,” Panaski mentioned. 

Unified P.E allows students from varying backgrounds to come together and do something that North Penn has previously never done before in a physical education setting. Despite the fact that the class might not resemble a typical P.E course, the objective of the course stands firm in its belief of inclusivity. 

“Our class everyday looks different, and everyone is included. The goal is for everyone to smile and have fun, build some relationships, work on social skills, and to feel like you belong,” Panaski said. 

The class also helps its students foster new skills that can help them prosper in the future. The course caters to many health and educational occupations. It is beneficial to not only the students with disabilities but also the students without disabilities. 

“We have a lot of students—especially in the periods I teach—who are looking to go into education. I have a student who started this course, and three weeks in, found out she wanted to go into occupational therapy or physical therapy. I have a lot of their services included in this class. Adults come in to do occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, visual therapy, and hearing therapy which allows students who are interested in those jobs to see and interact with those people. It’s a great opportunity for those students,” Panaski stated.

Perhaps the biggest benefit to taking this class, though, are the relationships that are created. These special connections are what makes a high school experience so sacred and memorable.

“It took a while for us to bond, and we did bonding activities at the beginning of the year. It was definitely the right thing to do because I think every class has found unique bonds between each and every student,” Panaski said. 

At the end of the day, Unified P.E. is a great choice for any current sophomores and juniors who are looking to branch out and try something new next year. The class has already helped so many students find a happy period within their schedule, and the course will continue to inspire others for years to come. 

“The bottom line is I want people to have fun. My class shouldn’t be stressful at all. I want everyone to make some friendships and connections. I want them to open their eyes to the fact that everyone is capable of doing awesome things,” Panaski concluded.