Inclusivity is a value that should be strived for in every person and at every place. This value was upheld during the National Inclusive Schools Week run by HPISD, Student Council, Best Buddies and the Special Services Department. It took place the week of Dec. 4. The purpose of the week was to celebrate the progress schools have made to give diverse populations quality education.

Inclusive Schools Week is an annual event that’s sponsored by the Inclusive Schools Network (ISN) and Stetson & Associates, Inc. It started in 2001 with the goal to celebrate progress in educations towards diverse student populations. This year’s theme was Stand Up, Sit Tall for Inclusion; its goal was to focus on why students should stand up for inclusion at their school and in their daily life as a whole.

The week started out with a video that had different leaders for clubs at the school, like She’s the First or Fellowship of Christian Athletes, speak about why their club supports Inclusive Schools Week’s message. There was also another video released that allowed students and faculty in HPISD to talk about how they are HP.

To help celebrate, each day of the week had a different theme that teachers and the students were invited to join in on. For example, Monday, Dec. 4, was crazy sock day; Tuesday, Dec. 5, was Mix and Match, which encouraged wearing multi-colored clothing to represent the puzzle piece, the symbol for the organization Autism Speaks. Thursday, Dec. 7, was wear a hat and make a new friend.

Treats were also handed out at the Student Entrance. Thursday was Hershey’s Kisses.

Inclusive Schools Week was also celebrated by the elementary schools, MIS and HPMS during the week of Dec. 4. At Armstrong Elementary, for example, students learned about Augmentative and Alternative Communication, which is a term used for communication methods that either supplement or replace speech or writing. Bradfield Elementary had a bulletin board that showed different scenarios students had been in that made them feel included by their classmates.  

Throughout the week, posts were made on social media under #inclusivehp that showcase what different schools did during the week.

Though over, inclusivity will remain an upheld value for the entire area of HPISD and all its schools.