Inclusion
- Dec 12, 2018
- 2 min read
As I glance around the gym at WMS filled with hundreds of 8th graders the excitement is palpable. It's Nitroball tournament day, an offshoot of volleyball and foursquare. The students have formed teams, registered to play, and many have created team uniforms.
My class entered a few minutes early to find spots, and get settled before the horde of boisterous kids ascended on us. These are some of the hardest times for my kids. Unstructured, loud, chaotic, with unknown variables that I can't plan for or fix.
As we got settled and the school came streaming in, I looked up to find my students completely surrounded by their peers. They were helping them put on uniforms and getting them ready to play. I was dumbfounded. Unknown to me, many of my students had been recruited, signed up, and had uniforms made for them to be able to play on different teams.
As the games began and my kids took to the court with joy and excitement, the kids in the stands began to applaud wildly for them, and my kids ate it up. Were all the rules followed..nope, did anyone complain...nope. Everyone just played and had a good time. Supporting and cheering on one and all.
This inclusion wasn't run by me or other school staff, it was naturally done by my students peers.
My favorite piece of the day was when I took one of the organizers aside and said "thank you " the student looked up at me and said "For what?" They may not understand the impact this day made on my students but I sure as heck do.
Spread love and inclusion for all.
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