SFUSD Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week

Activities include virtual assemblies featuring Special Olympics athlete speakers, PE workout with the 49ers, and young adult panel

San Francisco (December 7, 2020) - SFUSD celebrates Inclusive Schools Week December 7 to 11 with activities taking place during the week and sharing resources to be utilized all year round by teachers, families, and students. The week’s virtual events taking place in the district include a young adult discussion panel on inclusion and intersectionality, assemblies featuring Special Olympics athlete speakers, a workout led by the San Francisco 49ers, an online arts showcase featuring student submissions, and ability awareness activities taking place at school sites.

Historically, Inclusive Schools Week has been an opportunity to honor all students with disabilities as full members of our school communities. In recent years it has also become an opportunity to learn and teach about the intersection of disabilities with other categories of identity, like race, gender, class, cultural heritage, language preference and other differences. Inclusive Schools Week provides an important opportunity for educators, students, and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure our schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate and include all children.

“SFUSD strives to make every single student feel included and celebrated in our schools all year long,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews. “Through participating in activities during Inclusive Schools Week, our communities can gain a deeper understanding of our incredibly diverse student population.”

The theme for Inclusive Schools Week this year is "The Time for Inclusion is Now,” recognizing the importance of inclusion across all differences as well as the urgency of acting in the present moment to rectify injustices across all aspects of our society. The theme also celebrates the progress that has been made in disability access and inclusion as we celebrate 30 years of the American Disabilities Act and 45 years of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act,  and a time to acknowledge the hurdles that remain for those who are marginalized in our society. 

Schools in the district will implement relevant discussions and activities into their learning plans, including read alouds, guest speakers, videos, writing exercises, a virtual film festival, and an Instagram takeover.

Resources for staff, families, and students can be found on the Inclusive Schools Week page on sfusd.edu and include the 2020 Inclusion Resource Guide and the Inclusive Schools Week Bitmoji Classroom.

The schedule of events*, which will all take place via Zoom, is as follows:

• December 7 (6:30 to 7:30PM): Kickoff Event: Young Adult Panel Discussion on Inclusion and Intersectionality 
• December 8 (2PM): Glen Park Elementary Hosts Special Olympics Athlete Speaker Loretta D. (Softball / Swimming)
• December 9 (9AM): San Francisco 49ers Workout with Sourdough Sam
• December 9 (2:30PM): Galileo High Hosts Special Olympics Athlete Speaker Jonathan S. (Golf / Swimming / Track and Field, 2020 Special Olympics Athlete of the Year - Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame)
• December 10 (1PM): James Lick Middle Hosts Special Olympics Athlete Speaker Jonathan Z. (Global Messenger and Health Messenger, Special Olympics Northern California)
• December 11 (10:10AM): Thurgood Marshall High ACCESS Program Hosts Special Olympics Athlete Speaker Phillip G. (Soccer / Basketball)

Members of the media who wish to cover any of the above events should register at sfusd.edu in order to receive the Zoom link information.

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