Hanover Public Schools Inclusive Schools Week, October 17-21, 2022

Inclusive Schools Week is an annual celebration of inclusivity and acceptance in the Hanover Public Schools. During this week, our four schools will salute the progress we have made in providing unique and equitable experiences for all learners. During this week, students and staff will engage in activities and discussions centered around the themes of kindness, diversity, and inclusion. It promises to be a week filled with meaningful learning experiences for our students.

Highlights of this Week’s Celebration

Cedar School

Cedar School students and staff will enjoy the story “All Are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman. The Cedar students will also participate in an age-appropriate activity to raise social awareness of sign language. During Tuesday morning announcements, Principal Craddock will model a few of the basics of sign language and the students will practice with their classmates. Another Cedar activity will allow students to learn more about the Buddy Bench at Cedar, including how it can be utilized to promote new friendships. Finally, the kindergarten and first-grade students will attend an assembly with a special guest, Ryan Haack, author of the book “Different is Awesome”.  Ryan will share his story of inclusivity and disability awareness with the children.  

Center School

Center School is celebrating a “Different is Awesome” themed Inclusive Schools Week. Ryan Haack, author of the story “Different is Awesome” will be visiting Center School on Friday to share his story with the students and staff. Leading up to his visit, the students will engage in a “Different is Awesome” activity in each of their specialist classes. These include sensory differences activities in physical education, digital hand projects in information technology, a tie-dye project in art, and a special song in music class. Finally, Charlie, the emotional support dog will be the featured guest at Wednesday’s grade-level Community Meetings.

Hanover Middle School

Hanover Middle School students and staff will once again celebrate Inclusive Schools Week with a different theme each day. The HMS themes are kindness, empathy, respect, confidence, and inclusion. These themes will be incorporated into daily classroom activities. Highlights of the week include class discussions about respecting others' cultures and beliefs, Hive Five friendship assignments, creating a Choose to Be Kind poster, and a reading of the story “The Sneetches” by Dr. Seuss.

Hanover High School

At Hanover High School, our friends in the P.O.S.T. program created HHS Inclusive Schools Week stickers that were shared with students and staff as they entered the building this morning. In the library, there is a display of diverse books that provide "windows and mirrors," or reflections of ourselves and views into the lives of others. Our S.A.D.D. Club is painting murals with inclusivity statements at the entryway to the school. The S.A.D.D. Club is also providing positive quotes about inclusion that will be shared during morning announcements. Art classes will be creating a hallway display that highlights the national Inclusive Schools Week theme "Unity Within Our Community". Finally, our first Unified Soccer game is scheduled for Thursday, October 20, 2022, 4:00 PM, at Hanover High School. Our team will be playing against the Rockland Unified team. It is going to be an amazing game!

A huge thank you to our Hanover Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) for teaming up with our schools to make this week special for our students, staff, and families. The SEPAC is creating a bulletin board at Center School celebrating different "superpowers". Examples of “superpowers” include creativity, neurodiversity, kindness, being artistic, and being an empathetic listener. At Hanover Middle School, our SEPAC friends are helping to create a school-wide kindness chain that is being assembled throughout the week and displayed in the cafeteria.  

Finally, a special thank you to all the teachers and families who are helping to make this important week meaningful for our students.

Sincerely,

Mike Oates
Director of Student Services