Inclusive Schools Week is an annual celebration held each December to promote student diversity and advocate achievement for all learners. This year’s theme, “Kaleidoscope of Friends” is symbolic of collective, beautiful shapes that represent a culture of togetherness and inclusive education. Our school community is comprised of a diverse student body: 17% are recipients of special education services, 17% are bilingual students, 4% participate in the Gifted & Talented program, 5% are in the Honor Society, 55% are male and 45% are female.
On Tuesday, November 13th in preparation of Inclusive Schools Week, CST Social Worker Ms. Howard kicked off the special celebration with teachers, Ms. Abraham and Ms. Arce called Secret Second Graders-Getting to Know the Staff. Each student selected a name of a staff member at Marin and prepared interview questions for them. They also baked cupcakes and delivered them to each staff member. These interviewees were asked to take a picture with their Secret Second Grade Student and participate in an interview that included questions about their job title, responsibilities, office and classroom location.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Student Darrin Frederick shared an inspiring quote written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
School wide activity: 100 Things That Make Our School Inclusive - Students contributed to a list of 100 Things that Make Luis Muñoz Marin inclusive. A bulletin board displaying their responses is located near the auditorium.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
8th grade student Zechariah Hopkins shared an inspiring quote written by civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, “We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthen this community and this nation.”
School wide activity - Inclusive Clips: A collection of digital videos and pictures on various aspects of inclusion were shared during lunch in each cafeteria.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
3rd grade student Xavier Davis shared an inspiring quote from motivational speaker and author, Catherine Pulsifer “We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity life would be very boring.”
School wide activity-Inclusion Campaign: Students school-wide responded to the following writing prompt, “I feel included when…” The writing prompt inspired class discussions about inclusivity.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
7th grade student Mariya Carlo shared an inspiring quote from American businessman and writer Max de Pree, “We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”
School wide activity: Better Together Poster Contest - Classes worked together to create posters to celebrate inclusion and diversity along with a rubric for scoring. Mrs. Paz, Mrs. Odiase and Mrs. De La Rosa’s pre-k class won the poster contest themed “Great Things Happen in Inclusive Schools!”
Friday, December 7, 2018
2nd grade student Azjah Irby shared an inspiring quote from an unknown author who said, “Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.”
School wide activity - All Means All T-Shirt Day: Staff rocked their ‘All Means All, Better Together’ T-shirt. LMM Scholars wore ‘Celebrating You’ stickers to promote inclusion. Students and Ms. Howard decorated cupcakes and delivered them throughout the building. Photo opportunities to highlight our day were made possible by Eighth Grade Student Photographer, Leeroy Randolph.
The Inclusive Schools Week at LMM was a resounding success! The week long activities genuinely promoted inclusion and extended outside of our school community as central office members: Assistant Superintendent Jose Fuentes, Special Assistant Erica Paich and Special Assistant Francesca Finazzo returned to our site on Friday to support closing events. This event would not have been possible without the continued support of Principal Maria Ortiz, Vice Principal Adjoa Denchi-Smith, Academic Interventionist Ashley Jiles, School Operations Manager Courtney Johnson and Social Worker Kimberly Howard. Collectively, the LMM school community will maintain the implementation of effective frameworks that promote inclusive education.