Building Belonging Through Inclusive Celebrations

¡Dale, dale, dale!

Shouts and cheers rang out from the blacktop at Friendship School in late September, as students and staff celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual adapted piñata activity.

Each year Friendship School celebrates the vibrant culture and traditions shared by many of the students and staff. The annual piñata activity is a popular hit.

Students, with the support of staff and loved ones, grab prizes from an adapted piñata – an item modeled after a Filipino pabitin, which has a grid-like frame and bags of treats hanging from it that can be grabbed easily.

Students also participated using communication devices to engage with each other, saying “I’m ready!”, “My turn!”, and “I nominate _____ for a turn!” They also used their communication devices to encourage and cheer each other on.

Enrichment such as the piñata activity plays an important role in Friendship School’s work toward building belonging for students through inclusivity and equitable access.

“Even though these children don’t have full mobility, the teachers try to engage in sports with them,” explained Friendship School parent Juana Robles, who attended the activity with her daughter Cali Victoria. “The kids are happy to have these recreational activities. Being there, I realized that they really do have another family, which are their teachers and the staff who support them.”

Making sure students have the opportunity to participate in cultural experiences is important for principal Rachel Page.

“Sharing traditions and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is just one way we’re helping our students strengthen their peer connection and build a sense of belonging,” explained Page. “And by finding a way to adapt the activity and incorporate the students’ communication devices, we’re giving them a fun and unique opportunity to build their confidence, express themselves, and support one another.”

This year, Friendship School students were joined by their “buddies” from Global Academy, a SDCOE JCCS program in the South Region.

The new Buddy Program launched this fall and pairs JCCS students with students at Friendship School, giving them an opportunity to connect with their peers who have special needs, and develop an understanding of some of the challenges their peers face.