Eight students at Thomas Blake Middle School competed on the Unified Bocce Team this fall. (Photo Courtesy Medfield Public Schools)
MEDFIELD — The Thomas Blake Middle School Unified Bocce Team recently wrapped up a strong fall season built on teamwork and inclusion.
Eight students in grades 6 through 8 participated in this year’s program. The team practiced and played at Blake and traveled to matches in Foxborough and Walpole throughout the fall.
The season gave students the opportunity to learn to play bocce and compete while spending time together in a supportive setting.
The season ended on Thursday, Oct. 30, when Blake visited Hopkinton Middle School for the Unified Regional Jamboree, where athletes from schools across the region gathered to play bocce and celebrate their season.
“This program gives our students a chance to connect and support one another while trying something that’s new to most of them,” Principal Vaughn said. “It has become an important part of the school year, and we are proud of how our athletes represented Blake. I also want to thank our coaches, Susan Bycoff and Matt Marenghi, for the time and care they put into this work.”
Blake began offering Unified Sports in 2024, starting with basketball before adding bocce. The program continues to grow and introduces more students to inclusive activities that bring peers with and without disabilities together through shared play.
Plans are already underway for future Unified opportunities at Blake, including basketball in 2026.
“Unified Sports give students a chance to play, compete and build friendships in an environment where everyone has a place on the team,” said Superintendent Jeffrey J. Marsden. “We are proud to see Blake continue to grow these opportunities and create an environment where all students feel welcome.”
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The Unified Bocce Team played matches at Blake and also traveled to Foxborough and Walpole to compete this fall. (Photo Courtesy Medfield Public Schools)
Students on Blake Middle School’s Unified Bocce Team are all smiles. (Photo Courtesy Medfield Public Schools)
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