National Inclusive Schools Week

Next week (December 8-12) marks Inclusive Schools Week. Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has worked to support and celebrate the progress schools have made in providing a supportive, quality education to an increasingly diverse student population.

The theme for 2025 is “Children First: Building a Stronger Tomorrow,”  based on the Maasai greeting, Casserian Engeri, which translates to “And how are the children?” This traditional salutation reflects the Maasai’s deep commitment to ensuring that their children are well, recognizing that the well-being of children impacts the health and future of the entire society.

Here in the RCSD, we have activities planned at all our schools to create a greater sense of connectivity and belonging for every student.

At the elementary schools, students will hear daily inspirational quotes suggested by RAISE (Rye All Inclusive Special Education) during morning announcements. Every classroom in all three schools will cast votes in the Sticker Design Competition to pick their favorite stickers created by students in the RMS SALT Squad and RHS GARNETS (to learn more, see below!).

At Midland School, students will be asked, “What is it about Midland School that makes you feel valued and included?” Student answers will be posted to the bulletin board in the main lobby for all of Midland to see and read.

At Milton School, students will create a Kindness Chain in art class. To create the chain, students write a short message on a paper strip about a time they felt included by someone, or a way they saw someone include others (e.g., listening to a new idea, celebrating differences, making sure no one is left out). Or they can write something unique they appreciate about a classmate. The paper strips will become a circular link, and the links are connected to create a long chain. The message for students? Every link represents a moment where someone made the school more inclusive. When you connect all the links, it shows how the whole community grows stronger when everyone belongs!

At Osborn School, Inclusivity Week happens to fall during Spirit Week this year, so there are daily activities planned, including the creation of a “weaving our differences” mural made up of small paper bears that reflect something unique about each student, an Inclusivity Chain (similar to Milton’s Kindness Chain) with links that describe acts of inclusivity, and a Pledge to Inclusivity activity wherein students write or illustrate a personal pledge that describes how they will continue to support inclusion, kindness, and cultural awareness.

At RMS, students will also hear daily quotes about inclusivity provided by RAISE (Rye All Inclusive Special Education) during morning announcements. There will be lunchtime activities throughout the week, including:

• I Can Help Build a Stronger Tomorrow By… 🎤💬 Students will share their thoughts and help celebrate the power of inclusion! 
• Mix It Up Day! 🪑✨ Students will be challenged to sit with someone new and make a connection they’ve never had before.
• Snapshots for a Stronger Tomorrow! 🎤📸 Students will have a chance to stop by the photo station to share what inclusion means to them and capture the moment! 
• Ro-Sham-Bo Tournament! ✊🤚✌️Students will test their Rock-Paper-Scissors skills to see how far they can go! It’s all about fun, connection, and friendly competition.

For the second year, the RMS SALT Squad has been busy designing stickers that celebrate inclusivity for the SALT Sticker Design Competition. The winning design will be announced during a school-wide pizza party lunch on Friday (courtesy of RAISE). The winning sticker will be printed and distributed throughout RMS.

RHS students will also hear daily quotes about inclusivity provided by RAISE during morning announcements, and the RHS Bridges Club has developed activities for community lunch Monday-Thursday. Taking a page out of the RMS Salt Squad’s book, the RHS GARNETS class is holding its own Sticker Design Competition this year. The winning design will be announced during a pizza party and DJ event during Friday’s community lunch period.

Look for Instagram and Facebook posts of Inclusivity Week activities all next week!