INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS WEEK 2025

Please see the slideshow below.

We’d like to thank everyone for their support and enthusiasm during our third annual Inclusive Schools Week!

Inclusive Schools Week is an annual celebration of inclusivity and acceptance. This year’s theme was “Every Voice Matters,” which echoes the fundamental belief that every individual has a unique perspective and contributes to the rich tapestry of our school communities. The focus of the week was communication. The curriculum focused specifically on communication without words, assistive technology and augmentative communication, music, world languages, and how to use your voice for others when they are in need.

At the elementary level, C.H.I.L.D. provided all four schools with materials to create the banners. Teachers were provided with video links for picture books and daily lessons and activities about communication differences. Librarians, Ms. Walker and Ms. Freda were given three picture books for each school — Beyond Words by Dana Hall, More than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean by Roz Maclean, and Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker. Elementary students were also excited to receive a visit from author Chelsea Bray, author of Adventures Down Autism Avenue – A Trip to the Farm: A Story for Kids to Learn about Acceptance, Inclusion, and Friendship.

At HBW, staff were provided with different YouTube videos, activities, and TED Talks. Ms. Sewell, her students, and paras created a school-wide bulletin board and Ms. Albano ran a door decorating contest! Ms. Qin also created a wonderful bulletin board and worked with Ms. Kleinknecht on a collaborative lesson on inclusivity. Ms. Qin also celebrated the Lunar New Year with an exploration of Chinese culture and a New Year celebration with the Chinese Club. Additionally, Ms. Thomas created a bulletin board spelling out “H.B. Whitehorne” in sign language.

At VHS, staff and students were provided with a series of TED Talks about communication that could be used to supplement the curriculum. Ms. Thomas created a bulletin board, spelling out “Verona High School” in sign language, and VHS librarian, Kaitlyn Kelly created a display in the Learning Commons. The student-run club VHS Connect, led by Aubrey Paul and Lori Hempel, with the support of advisors, Ms. Diaz, Ms. Bayrum, and Dr. Shapiro, created and distributed puzzle pieces to VHS students during homeroom, put together a bulletin board, and held a bake sale. These activities supported their club’s mission “to bridge the gap between neurodivergent and neurotypical students, fostering a community where everyone feels valued and included.”

Behind the scenes, we were fortunate to work with Dr. Miller, Ms. Symmons, our principals, administrative assistants, school librarians, the VHS Student Council, National Honor Society, VHS Connect, C.H.I.L.D. parent volunteers, and teachers and staff.

Additionally, C.H.I.L.D. created a t-shirt to be worn on the Friday of Inclusive Schools Week and received 220 orders! Thank you, parents, teachers, administrators, and staff members!

The Inclusive Schools Week Poetry Contest was also a big success with 137 poems being submitted across the district! Our Board was very impressed with the hard work and time that went into each submission. At our Open SEPAC Meeting on March 12, we recognized the winners with a certificate and monetary award. The winners are: Taylor Sheehan (Brookdale Avenue Elementary School); Dana Poliseno (F.N. Brown Elementary School); Kate Hynes (Forest Avenue Elementary School); Giuliana Iovine (Laning Avenue Elementary School); Jacob Schwar (H.B. Whitehorne Middle School); and Kathryn Pietrucha (Verona High School).

The winning poems are currently on display at the Verona Public Library, where they will remain through the first week of April.