December 5, 2025

Dear Sheehan Families,

Happy Friday!!  Next week, we kickoff Inclusive Schools Week.

The 2025 theme for Inclusive Schools Week is, “Children First.” "Children First" is rooted in the powerful Maasai greeting, Casserian Engeri, which translates to “And how are the children?” This traditional salutation reflects the Maasai’s deep commitment to ensuring that their children are well, recognizing that the well-being of children reflects the health and future of the entire society.

In schools today, this theme challenges us as educators, school leaders, and communities to ask:

• Are all children reaching their full potential in our schools?

• Do our educational practices reflect a commitment to equity and access for every student?

• How can we ensure that students with disabilities are seen, heard, and valued in every aspect of school life?

Putting Children First means prioritizing every student’s right to learn in an environment that supports their diverse needs, embraces their unique abilities, and fosters a sense of belonging. It means recognizing that when schools are designed to support students with disabilities, they become better places for all learners.

All schools across the District will be celebrating each day with a different way to show support for Inclusive Schools Week.  Please see below for our Spirit Days for Inclusive Schools Week.

• Monday, December 8: “Children First” Day – Everyone Belongs in Westwood

  • Wear school colors or your favorite Westwood gear to show your commitment to inclusion.

• Tuesday, December 9: “Different Brains, Great Ideas” Day

  • Wear mismatched clothes or socks to celebrate differences and embrace the unique strengths each person brings.

• Wednesday, December 10: “Teamwork” Day

  • Wear a favorite team jersey or shirt to highlight the importance of teamwork and being a supportive community member.

• Thursday, December 11: “Empathy & Understanding” Day

  • Participate in “Walk in My Shoes” by wearing mismatched shoes to acknowledge the different challenges people face and the importance of empathy.

• Friday, December 12: “Champions of Inclusion” Action Day

  • Wear your favorite superhero t-shirt to show that we can all be champions of inclusion through our words, actions, and advocacy.

In addition we at the Sheehan School will participate in a school wide project to celebrate Inclusive Schools week.  Each classroom will read aloud All My Stripes by Shaina Rudolph or Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor and engage in a class discussion and related art activity around the theme of each book.  I encourage families to share these wonderful books at home with their children.

As always, reach out with questions.

Sincerely,

Kristen Evans