We are thrilled to announce that our district will be celebrating Inclusive Schools Week from December 2-6, 2024! This year’s theme, “Every Voice Matters,” highlights the importance of creating environments where every student feels heard, valued, and empowered to succeed. First launched in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week is an event celebrated internationally during the first week of December. It was designed to raise awareness and promote effective inclusive practices in schools. This is an important week as we in the South Orange-Maplewood School District are truly committed to providing an inclusive learning environment for all our students.
We are excited for students to participate in various activities this week. Each school will be celebrating in its own way.
We have developed the following questions that are intended to allow you to continue the conversations your children are having at school when they are at home:
Exploring Inclusion and Belonging
- What does it mean to you to feel included at school or in a group?
- Can you share a time when you helped someone feel included? How did it make you feel?
- Why do you think it’s important for everyone at school to feel like their voice matters?
Understanding and Appreciating Diversity
- What are some things that make you unique? How can we celebrate those differences?
- What have you learned about someone at school who is different from you?
- Why is it important to understand and respect people with different abilities, cultures, or perspectives?
Taking Action for Inclusion
- What’s one way you could make a new classmate feel welcome?
- How can you be an ally to someone who might be feeling left out?
- If you were designing an “inclusive classroom,” what would it look like, sound like, or feel like?
Reflection and Growth
- Has there ever been a time when you felt left out? What would have made the situation better?
- What can we as a family do to promote inclusion and kindness in our community?
- What does “Every Voice Matters” mean to you, and how can we apply it in our daily lives?
Thank you for your continued partnership in building an inclusive school environment where every voice truly matters.
We hope that your children will share their ideas and the experiences they have had at school. We also encourage you to ask your child about the specific lessons and discussions they have participated in during the week.
Thank you for supporting our efforts to create a more inclusive learning environment during this Inclusive Schools Week through your participation at home.
Your partner in education,
The School District of South Orange & Maplewood
