Inclusive Schools Week 2022
FCPS schools celebrate "Unity Within Our Community."
Fairfax County Public Schools celebrated Inclusive Schools Week during the week of December 5-9, 2022. This year’s theme, “Unity Within Our Community,” recognized that when we are united we are stronger to focus on our common goal: inclusive practices in our schools, in our communities, and around the world!
The following elementary schools shared how they embraced inclusive schools week: Annandale Terrace, Chesterbrook, Dranesville, Floris, Great Falls, McNair Upper, Terraset, Waples Mill, and Westgate.
The following secondary schools also shared how they celebrated the week: Annandale High, Davis Career Center, Hayfield Secondary, Herndon Middle, Herndon High, Katherine Johnson Middle, and West Springfield High.
Elementary Schools
Annandale Terrace Elementary
Annandale Terrace staff used an Inclusive Schools Week choice board displayed in the teachers' break room.
List of Choice Board Activities (Annandale ES)
The choice board included the following activities:
- Have students develop a list of a variety of ways that people can communicate. Help them expand the list by discussing different forms of communication, including sign language, foreign languages, assistive technology devices, etc.
- Establish a "Five Minutes for Friendship" ritual each day. Have students pair up with classmates on a rotating basis. Provide a topic for the pair to discuss for five minutes. Ask a few pairs to share their conversation with the class.
- Ask students to write or think about a time that they didn't feel included in a group. Talk about how it made them feel. Ask them how their experiences relate to to anyone who is perceived as different and what challenges they might face in a school setting.
- Invite students to create a list of all of their unique characteristics under a picture of themselves. Display student work during the week.
- Encourage students to study how the fields of science and technology have contributed to the lives of people with disabilities. Some examples are cochlear implants, assistive technology, wheelchairs, teletype (TTY).
- Allow students to make a choice of how they will demonstrate their learning on a specific topic. Encourage students to be creative and to be able to explain why they chose to be assessed in their respective ways.
- Instruct student groups to work together to assess the accessibility of the school and community for people with disabilities. What modifications can be made? Do the public buildings in the community offer access to people with disabilities?
- Pilot a co-teaching model in one or more classrooms, pairing a general education teacher and a special education teacher.
- Label items in the classroom with pictures, object cues, Spanish words, Braille, or any other symbol systems that will support the students in the classroom.
Chesterbrook Elementary
Chesterbrook students filled out strips of paper about what makes them who they are. The strips were made into paper chains and linked together to form a rainbow. Different traits and strengths can be seen along with all the things that makes students who they are.
Chesterbrook also created an inclusive bulletin board highlighting all the things you will miss about someone if all you see is a disability.
Dranesville Elementary
Dranesville embraces a culture of inclusiveness through its daily mission by striving for connection, access, relationships, excellence, and stakeholder engagement. All students in grades 4-6 are supported and encouraged to utilize Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and skills as WDES news anchors. During Inclusive Schools Week featured students from our Enhanced Autism Program were WDES news anchors. They shined as communicators who started the day with joyful greetings!
In addition, students took a family field trip to the Kennedy Center to see the sensory-friendly performance of "The Day You Begin."
Floris Elementary
At Floris, the counselors planned a "One Floris" spirit day for the end of November, aimed at uniting students, regardless of any differences. They provided teachers with activities to do within their classrooms and gave opportunities for students to show their commitment by pledging to do acts of kindness to contribute to the “One Floris” community. During Inclusive Schools Week, the 4th-6th graders also participated in the "Walk in My Shoes" program, completing activities aimed at building empathy by putting them in situations that simulate how students with disabilities interact in our world.
Great Falls Elementary
At Great Falls, 4th grade educators teamed up to offer a calm resource room on the last school day before Winter Break! This day can be exciting, but also overwhelming for students with sensory needs. The calm room was accessible to all 4th grade students throughout morning activities and class parties, and included soft lighting, coloring, sensory gadgets, kinetic sand, and soft music. Teachers staffed the calm room in shifts, to connect with each and every student who wished or needed to access a quieter environment for a few minutes, including students with and without disabilities.
McNair Upper Elementary
At McNair Upper, classroom teachers discussed the meaning of inclusiveness during their Morning Meetings and did a variety of activities and read alouds to help students make meaning of this word and its importance.
- 4th grade students created a classroom chain of how they model inclusiveness.
- 5th grade students had a class discussion after reading the text, "The Proudest Blue " by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali.
- 6th grade students participated in a Jamboard after reading the text "Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You" by Sonia Sotomayor.
Terraset Elementary
Terraset embraced their school promise, "We see you! We welcome you! You belong here!" Teachers took turns appearing on the daily news program to talk about what inclusion means to them.
Waples Mill Elementary
In addition to a spirit week and opportunities to learn about cultures through music class, disabilities through library read alouds, and collaborative art through art class, students at Waples Mill had the opportunity to learn about Assistive Technology (AT) and Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC). Assistive Technology Services (ATS) gave a presentation to classes about AAC and allowed students to explore different devices. This was a great opportunity to learn about how members of their school community communicate and to remove some of the novelty around these devices!
Westgate Elementary
The Category B (Cat B) team at Westgate Elementary created a sensory hall for all students. On Wednesdays, students who receive Cat B services participate in a buddy program with fifth graders. In addition, Westgate staff continue to use collaborative planning to ensure that all students' needs are met and that they are provided with opportunities to engage with their same-aged peers.
Westgate staff shared they are so grateful to work in a school setting that embraces differences and inclusiveness!
Secondary Schools
Annandale High
Annandale High School promotes inclusion everyday through their Special Olympics and Best Buddies programs. General education peers have the opportunity to participate and practice in different sports such as soccer, basketball, and track/field during our Special Olympics practices that are held every week during the school day. The best buddies program also promotes inclusion through bi-monthly afterschool meetings and in-school activities days where students with and without disabilities gather together for fun dancing, crafts, and more! This year during Inclusive Schools Week, Best Buddies held holiday themed meetings on clubs/activities day and Special Olympics held a special practice to include all.
Caption 1: Atoms Best Buddies Arts & Craft Fun!
Caption 2: Atoms Best Buddies Arts & Craft Fun Pt. 2!
Caption 3: Atoms Special Olympics Unified Soccer Team picture
Davis Career Center
Each day at the Davis Career Center (DCC), students report to their volunteer or paid work sites where they learn the skills required to work in a variety of settings (retail, hospitality, materials management, etc.). Students work with and around our community partners’ paid employees, building relationships and spreading awareness of the skills that they have to offer.
In addition to community work experiences, students regularly participate in Community-Based Instruction (CBI). This includes targeted lessons to utilize public transportation, access local community resources, and practice tangible life skills such as grocery shopping. During CBI, students have the opportunity to meaningfully engage with the community at large in which they live.
Hayfield Secondary
Hayfield Secondary conducted a pantry food drive to bring together their community and staff and support all Hawk families. For the first time they created a middle school specific pantry to better serve all of our middle school students.
Our Parent Liaisons, Mr. Barnes and Ms. Traweek unify the community with Hayfield by servicing all populations. Ms. Traweek has been running an evening class for families to help them better access resources and engage in their students' education. This is geared towards, but not exclusive of, ESOL families.
Herndon Middle
At Herndon Middle School (HMS), Aimee Conrad submitted a few stories to represent inclusive practices at HMS:
- Like macaroni and cheese, Angela and Natalie belong together. They became acquainted during online school and quickly became inseparable after COVID restrictions were lifted and finally met in person. In 8th grade, Natalie wanted to join the Drama club, so naturally, that became Angela’s greatest dream. Laura Loy, the drama teacher at Herndon Middle School (HMS), seamlessly included the girls in the after-school club, assigning them each a buddy and creating parts for them in the Spring play, embracing their unique strengths and needs. Two student members of the drama club acted alongside them, offering gentle cues and support with their speaking parts. The girls’ families were part of the packed auditorium, and the school presented an incredible play that was only made better by including these two best friends.
- Laura Loy also supported an 8th grade student with special needs who wanted to perform in the school’s Talent Show in November. During the audition process, Ms. Loy ensured the student had a visual of her karaoke track and calmed her nerves by asking if she would like backup dancers. Eighth-grade students and volunteers designed a simple, non-distracting dance and positioned themselves behind her, keeping her from being scared on stage by herself. Backstage, students made a coloring station to keep her entertained during the other acts and prior to the big group bow at the end.
- In addition to the inclusive opportunities provided by Laura Loy, HMS’s extensive after-school program, Night Hawk, is run by AJ Fuller with thoughtfully designed, inclusive programs. Mr. Fuller utilizes trained instructional assistants to provide support and encourages positive student connections through his own example. An enthusiastic 8th grade student with special needs enjoys staying after school to attend Synergy Science Club with science teacher, Trish Brandon. She has welcomed him to participate and be involved.
- All students are our students here at Herndon Middle School. Go Hawks!
Herndon High
Ms. Kathleen Jacoby, the Herndon High School Band Director, received the 2022 James Madison University Dr. Alice M. Hammel Inclusion Music Education Award.
This award is presented to individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to:
- Developing adaptive, accommodative, and flexible pedagogical practices to support all persons.
- Pursing scholarly inequity into issues of difference, diversity, and inclusion that positively impacts the lives of all persons.
- Engaging with and in music learning and making communities to advocate for accessible and meaningful musical experiences for and will all persons to create, perform, and respond to music.
Katherine Johnson Middle
Katherine Johnson Middle School (KJMS) kicked off Inclusive Schools Week by acknowledging National Special Education Day on December 2, 2022. This day commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975.
Students and staff at KJMS participated in Spirit Week which included the following activities:
- On Monday, staff and students wore red for respect.
We respect and support our fellow classmates and recognize that individual differences are what make us special. - On Tuesday, staff and students wore green for gifts.
Friendship is a fit we give to one another. We all have gifts and special talents to share. - On Wednesday, staff and students wore blue for belonging.
Education takes on a beautiful shape when everyone feels valued as contributing members of the school community. - On Thursday, staff and students wore purple for positivity.
At KJMS, we notice and embrace each other's abilities. We crate a joyful school when we're positive to one another. - On Friday, staff and students wore school spirit wear.
We are all linked together and connected in our purpose to make KJMS an amazing school.
KJMS celebrates our teachers and staff who serve and support our students with special needs, as well as our families who are partners in the education and support of all students!
West Springfield High
The Buddies Club at West Springfield High School holds monthly social events which include modified games and activities to ensure the enjoyment of all who attend! Buddies Club promotes student participation in some of the most coveted activities within the West Springfield community, including Leadership/SGA, Staff vs. Students Basketball game, Homecoming, and so much more. New friends and skills are gained throughout the year and are celebrated at the Buddies Club Prom in the Spring, where everyone gets a special promposal. This club has changed the lives of many students over the past 11 years and continues to support students at West Springfield High School.
