Special Programs & Services
December 2023
In This Issue
Inclusive Schools Week (December 4th-8th)
The first week of December was home to Inclusive Schools Week. Inclusive Schools Week is an opportunity to highlight the work toward building more inclusive school communities in a more inclusive society. This year's theme was Draw Me In! As far back as the days of cave drawings, art has been a way for humans to express themselves. Many children begin to communicate through the language of art even before using words. We’ve often heard, “A picture is worth a thousand words. ”Participating in art provides a pathway to self-discovery, and sharing art opens doors to understanding and respecting different ways of thinking. The need to belong is a basic need of all students and an integral component of effective inclusive schools. To be inclusive implies a fundamental commitment to building relationships among students, families, educators, and the community to support safe and positive learning environments. Check out Inclusive Schools Week Family Resources.
Inclusive Schools Week Around the District
Giddens
Giddens Jaguars came together to make a quilt representing their unique qualities.
VRHS
During the Inclusion Breakfast at Vista Ridge High School, three students shared the ways that they've felt included in their educational experience despite the challenges of learning and language barriers, and the goals they've been able to accomplish along the way.
LMS
LMS celebrated Inclusive Schools Week in the car line with welcoming signs
Winkley
Winkley Wolverines created self-portraits to share their strengths and challenges. It takes each and every Wolverine to make Winkley the special place it is.
School's Out
Tips for Managing the Long Break
As winter break is quickly approaching here are a few tips from other families to help manage long school breaks:
- Share the Plan - Create an overview of what will happen for your family during the school break. Share this with your children to help eliminate anxiety and reduce stress of upcoming events.
- Discuss Expectations & Support Strategies - Discuss appropriate behavior and self-management strategies ahead of time with your child. Make a list of self-regulation strategies with your child to empower them and help reduce holiday meltdowns. Review the Behavior at Home family workshop presentation for ideas and inspiration.
- Shared Activities to Connect Family - Find activities that will be fun for the whole family to participate in such as board games, print out activities, reading, or watching a movie. These are simple ways to engage the family in shared activities.
- Take Along Activities and Sensory Tools - Set your children up for success by bringing a backpack of your child’s favorite activities and sensory tools when you visit family or have outings.
- Give Them a Job - Help ease your child's anxiety by assigning them a job to do during family events that they can focus on. These can include: taking guest coats, filling drinks, collecting wrapping paper trash, clearing the table, etc. By allowing your child to have a "job" you give them a place to focus the extra nervous energy and help reduce anxiety.
- Keep It Simple - Don't worry about creating a massive calendar of events and keeping up with a bunch of traditions that wear your family out. Keep it simple and do what works for your family.
Check out more tips to survive the holidays from A Heart for All Students and Taking Stress Out of Family Gatherings
Visual Supports
Social Stories
Activities to Do
At Home Fun
Planning activities for break doesn't have to be nerve wrecking. Utilize everyday items that you have around the house:
- Have a family sing-a-long
- Play board games
- Go on an indoor or outdoor scavenger hunt
- Color a coloring page completely
- Cut paper snowflakes
- Make a fort to cover the living room and watch a movie inside
- Do a puzzle
- Make a magazine collage
- Stay in pajamas all day
- Bake cookies
- Make an obstacle course
- Play hide & seek
- Camp out by the Christmas tree
- Create your own sensory box
Cooking Together
Meal time is a great way to have fun and build independent living skills. Before you start cooking, think about your child's strengths and how can they help in your meal preparation. For your child this can look like gathering, counting, or sorting ingredients and utensils. Talk about what you are doing as you're doing it. For example: “Mommy is getting all the vegetables for our salad. We have cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots... Now I’m going to wash them and get them all clean." You can also utilize cooking together as an opportunity to discuss and model kitchen safety when using sharp utensils or hot appliances.
Here are some simple recipes to try as a family:
Reading Fun
For more family reading tips check out this month's Supporting Young Readers Monthly Newsletters:
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