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2 students in pink shirts stand with 2 educators from BOHS. Behind them there is a TV monitor with a green and gold graphic that reads Inclusion at Brea Olinda High School

Brea Olinda High School’s Inclusive Spring Fling Dance and Unified Activities Earn 2026 Golden Bell Award

Melissa Serrato

October 7, 2026

Brea Olinda High School’s (BOHS) Inclusive Spring Fling Dance and Unified Activities have received successful validation from the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and will be honored with the prestigious 2026 Golden Bell Award, recognizing the program’s innovative approach to creating meaningful, inclusive opportunities for students of all abilities.

The Golden Bell Awards recognize outstanding educational programs and governance practices that promote excellence in California public schools. BOHS’s Spring Fling Dance and Unified Activities were recognized for their success in addressing barriers and promoting equitable opportunities, creating a school environment where students with and without disabilities can build authentic relationships and fully participate in the high school experience.

For more than 25 years, Link Crew at BOHS has provided leadership opportunities and support for students transitioning to high school. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Link Crew advisor Kara Dietz recognized an opportunity to intentionally rebuild the program around empathy, inclusion, and belonging.

That renewed vision led to the creation of the Spring Fling Dance in 2022, an annual celebration designed to ensure students in the Moderate/Severe Special Education Program experience the same traditions, milestones, and joy that define the high school years for their peers.

people dancing in a gym with colorful streamers above them

What began as a student-initiated idea has grown into an established BOHS tradition and an important part of the school’s broader culture of inclusion.

“At Brea Olinda High School, students have demonstrated that inclusion is not something adults do for students—it is something students create for one another,” said Superintendent Brinda Leon.

Spring Fling is intentionally designed so that students with disabilities are not simply invited to participate—they are central participants and celebrated members of the school community. At the same time, the event provides general education students with meaningful opportunities to develop relationships across ability groups and practice leadership, empathy, and inclusion.

“Spring Fling isn't just an event. It's a reminder of what's possible when a school community leads with inclusion, compassion, and the belief that everyone deserves a place to belong,” said Brielle Denbo, BOHS alumnus student leader who helped create the event.

girls dancing in a gym with colorful lights and posters behind them

The impact extends well beyond the event itself. Student feedback describes Link Crew as a “family” and a “safe space,” with students reporting that the program has helped them understand the importance of creating an environment where everyone belongs. Some Link Crew students have even credited their experiences with influencing their career aspirations in fields such as special education, counseling, speech pathology, and working with individuals with disabilities.

A Culture of Inclusion Beyond Spring Fling

Spring Fling is part of a comprehensive Unified ecosystem at BOHS, supported by Adaptive PE teacher Kasia Givenrod, that provides students with opportunities to participate in the social, athletic, artistic, and academic life of the school.

The programs include:

  • Unified Sports: Students with and without intellectual disabilities participate together in competitive and recreational athletics, building teamwork, friendship, and a shared sense of identity.

  • Unified PE: A dedicated physical education class brings students together and includes Unified Field Day activities for visiting junior high students.

  • Unified Choir: Students with and without disabilities rehearse and perform together, including during the annual Spring Magic Concert.

  • Unified Wildcats Club: The club hosts social events, games, and Inclusion Week activities throughout the school year.

  • Inclusion Week: An annual campus-wide celebration promotes diversity, acceptance and belonging through activities designed for all students.

Participation in BOHS Unified programs has continued to grow, with a 43% increase since the 2023-24 school year. The program also offers a model other schools can replicate. Schools with a peer mentorship or Link Crew program and a Special Education department can adapt Spring Fling's core elements—including trained peer mentors, an inclusive celebration, and intentional opportunities for cross-ability connections—to their own communities.

students with pink shirts stand over a table with craft and art supplies to help other students with a project

The 2026 Golden Bell Award recognizes what BOHS students and staff have demonstrated through Spring Fling and Unified Activities: when students are given the opportunity to lead with empathy and create space for one another, inclusion can become more than an event—it can become part of the culture of an entire school community.

Brea Olinda High School will be honored among the 2026 Golden Bell Award recipients at a ceremony later this year.