2010 marked an important year for San Francisco and inclusive schools, with the Mayoral Proclamation of Inclusive Schools Week (ISW) and the rollout of inclusion at every school site in the district by SFUSD special education services.
SFUSD Activities:
- SFUSD Inclusive Schools Week Committee formation, comprised of SFUSD parents Catherine Dauer and Audrey Vernick, SFUSD staff Carol Kocivar, Regina Piper and Julie Whelly, SFUSD Board of Ed member Rachel Norton, and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities staff Joe Goyos and Deidre Hayden.
- 2010 SFUSD web page with links and downloadable resources
- “Why Inclusion Matters: Celebrating Inclusive Schools Week” authored by SFUSD parent Audrey Vernick and distributed to school sites.
- Principal Packet with ISW Fact Sheet, themed library reading and resource list, and “Why Inclusion Matters” article
- School Site Activities:
→ Harvey Milk Elementary – Ability Awareness Day
→ Miraloma Elementary – Our school chose the theme “Our Human Race—Unique as Individuals, Exceptional Together”.
- Two school-wide writing and art projects, installed in the hallway outside the office.
- Put-Ups – The students received hand-shaped paper cut-outs on which they wrote and drew about observations at school related to inclusion, such as when someone did something nice for someone else, someone helped someone who was in trouble, or someone did something nice for the school community.
- Identity Tree – Students received colored strips of paper on which they completed the statement “I am unique because”, which were hung from the ceiling above the main hallway intersection.
- Themed library readings
- Daily Morning Circle happenings – an ISW welcome focused on diversity spoken in many different languages, School Spirit Day, TRIBES focus, Platinum Rule focus, themed song with Ms. Rhonda Crane “People helping people”
- PE Field Day with modified activities to simulate physical challenges
- Family survey regarding diversity and disabilities
- Family Feast potluck of foods from cultural and family traditions.
→ what did your school do in 2010?
2010 SF Inclusive Schools Mayoral Proclamation
On December 9, 2010 at San Francisco’s City Hall, “San Francisco Inclusive Schools Week” was established by Mayoral Proclamation, to happen each year during the first full week of December in alignment with National Inclusive Schools Week.
This proclamation is a milestone in progress toward a more inclusive society in general for our children and future generations, and toward reaching the time when we don’t celebrate differences, but take for granted equity for people of all abilities. It is also a positive catalyst for the work SF Unified School District is undergoing to transform and update the district’s inclusion practices throughout our school community.
Civic leaders, SFUSD staff, parents, educators, advocates and students participated in the press conference and celebration organized by Catherine Dauer with SFMONS & SFUSD. The ceremony included statements by SFUSD Deputy Superintendent Richard Carranza, SFUSD Board of Education member Rachel Norton, SFUSD Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Cecelia Dodge, and SF Supervisor David Campos. The proclamation was read by Hydra Mendoza representing Mayor Gavin Newsom, the Mayor’s Office on Disabilities and the SFUSD Board of Education.
Mayoral Proclamation of San Francisco Inclusive Schools Week – Gavin Newsom, Mayor; authored by Catherine Dauer
2010 SF Inclusive Schools Week Press
Other ISW happenings in San Francisco:
- KQED ‘On Education’ talk show
- Support for Families of Children with Disabilities screened an excerpt of “Including Samuel” in conjunction with an Inclusion panel program
Inclusion in SF & beyond 