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Collingswood and Oaklyn Schools SEPAG

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Collingswood and Oaklyn Schools SEPAG

An empowering + inclusive partnership
between stakeholders that
supports students with disabilities.

12/10/2025

🌟 Day 3: Fostering Friendships�
Today students are learning what positive friendships look like — and how connecting with others helps every student feel seen, welcomed, and included.

Activities across the district include:
• Read-alouds like My Brother Otto�• “Understanding Disabilities” video conversations�• Mix-It-Up recess and lunch, encouraging students to play or sit with someone new

And don’t miss it — check out Alex representing Inclusive Schools Week on PAWS TV this morning! 🎉�
Alex shared our message of belonging with students across the school. Way to go, Alex! 🌟

Ask your student: How did you practice being a good friend today?

12/09/2025

Collingswood + Oaklyn Schools Celebrate Inclusive Schools Week!

🌟 Day 2: Exploring Our Differences
�Today classrooms are talking about what makes each of us unique — and how visible and invisible differences contribute to a more vibrant community.

Students may participate in:�• Read-alouds like Different—A Great Thing to Be!�• “We Are All Different and That’s Awesome” video discussions�• Creating a classroom “question box” for disability + inclusion questions

Conversation starter:�“What differences do you notice in our community, and why are they important?”
�

12/08/2025

🌈 Happy first day of Inclusive Schools Week! 🌈

We’re excited to kick off a week of learning, connection, and celebration across Collingswood + Oaklyn Schools.

Today’s theme is Introduction to Disability Inclusion — a chance for students to explore what inclusion means, why it matters, and how each of us can help create welcoming spaces for every learner. 💛💙

Want to keep the conversation going at home?

📚 Click the link below for our Inclusive Book List — a wonderful collection of stories that celebrate differences, belonging, and understanding. They’re great additions to your family or classroom library this week and every day! 👉 https://tinyurl.com/2mv7u3d9

Here’s to a meaningful, inspiring start to Inclusive Schools Week! ✨

12/05/2025

Inclusive Schools Week begins Monday! 🌈✨

From December 8–12, classrooms across Collingswood + Oaklyn will take part in lessons, read-alouds, videos, and activities that celebrate inclusion and help students understand what it means to build welcoming, supportive communities.

Swipe through to learn what Inclusive Schools Week is all about — and don’t miss a special sneak peek of the Inclusive Schools Week book table at Sharp Elementary! 📚💛

Stay tuned for daily themes, highlights, and ways our schools are celebrating all week long.

03/22/2025

🌟 Wrapping Up Neurodiversity Celebration Week on World Down Syndrome Day 🌟

On Friday, students celebrated World Down Syndrome Day by wearing bright or mismatched socks to show their support, engaging in lessons about Down Syndrome, and watching a video about the significance of the day.

Did you know? People with Down syndrome lead full and productive lives—attending school, working, participating in community activities, and building meaningful relationships. Advances in healthcare and support have also increased life expectancy, with many individuals living into their 60s and beyond. As the most common chromosomal condition, Down syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 700 births.

Want to learn more? Check out the campaign from and the , advocating for inclusion and self-advocacy.

Stay tuned for highlights from this incredible week of learning and celebration!

03/20/2025

🌟 Neurodiversity Celebration Week – Days 3 and 4: Dyslexia, OCD & Tourette’s 🌟

Yesterday, students explored dyslexia and learned that it’s a form of neurodiversity! Lessons included videos, fact sheets, and book recommendations like Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. This high school level book highlights the strengths and creativity of those who think and learn differently.

Today, the focus shifts to OCD and Tourette’s Syndrome. Students are learning how these conditions affect others—including public figures like Billie Eilish—and how understanding and acceptance can make a difference.

As Jess Thom, creator of Touretteshero, reminds us: "Creativity has helped me transform myself from a Tourette’s ‘sufferer’ into a Tourette’s superhero...I just learned to see my condition in a different way."

By learning more, we create a more inclusive and supportive community for everyone!

03/18/2025

🌟 Neurodiversity Celebration Week – Day 2: Autism 🌟

Yesterday, students kicked off the week by learning about ADHD and sensory differences! They colored neurodiversity-themed pages to display at their schools and explored books from the week’s reading list, fostering conversations about embracing different ways of thinking and experiencing the world.

Today, the focus is on Autism!

📖 Pre-K & elementary students will enjoy All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Danielle Royer & Shaina Rudolph.
🧠 Middle & high schoolers will deepen their understanding with resources from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network ().

As Greta Thunberg reminds us:
"To be different is not a weakness. It’s a strength in many ways, because you stand out from the crowd."

Let’s continue celebrating the beauty of neurodiversity! 💙♾️

Image Description: Images include book displays at Tatum Elementary and Sharp Elementary showcasing neurodiversity-focused reading selections, a neurodiversity coloring page, and the cover of All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Danielle Royer and Shaina Rudolph, today’s featured book for Pre-K and elementary students.

03/17/2025

📢 Celebrating Neurodiversity in Our Schools! ♾️

On behalf of the Collingswood + Oaklyn SEPAG and the special services team, we’re excited to announce our third annual Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17-21, 2025)!

This district-wide event celebrates brain differences and fosters inclusion through engaging, strengths-based activities for students. Like last year, we’ve created school guides outlining daily themes and classroom activities designed to fit within 10-20 minutes of instruction time (find them here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xfSplb_gixKUR-k_wn6ge99-4XZrehxE/view?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY3EFtFPS7zRK38Ft8UA8tFbe_nClsSsvYEyM_uHlq71I80Kg1SrnSprFw_aem_S-l3slluYfVUJNvcg33oww)

We can’t wait to see classrooms across the district join us in embracing neurodiversity - be sure to follow along! Check out the inclusive books currently on display at Zane North, Garfield, and Tatem Elementary Schools! 💙✨

🔵 Accessibility Description: The first image features a white background with the Collingswood + Oaklyn School Districts logo at the top. The bold title welcomes the school community to Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17-21, 2025). Below, text explains the initiative’s purpose, emphasizing inclusivity and participation. The second image, also with a white background and the district logo, outlines the event’s goals: increase awareness, share information, support and accommodate students, and celebrate different ways of thinking. The text is formatted with bold headers for each key goal.

02/19/2025

SEPAG Meeting Alert!

Join us for a virtual meeting on Thursday, February 20 at 6:30pm.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86909850728

Bring your ideas for Neurodiversity Celebration Week!

Collingswood + Oaklyn SEPAG (Special Education Parent Advisory Group) continues our collaborative work with the district on systemic issues related to special education. Parents, caregivers, students, educators, and community members—join our SEPAG committees to take action towards change today!

12/05/2024

Inclusive Schools Week has been packed with lots of learning about important themes!

On Tuesday, the theme was “Exploring Our Differences”, and classrooms talked about why differences are important and what we can learn about ourselves and others when we explore our differences.

Yesterday, students and teachers discussed “Fostering Friendships”, what positive friendships are, and the importance of them. To put their words into action, students were encouraged to make a new friend!

Today, the theme is all about “Expanding Empathy”. Take the conversation home today and talk to your kids about why empathy is important and how being empathetic makes our community better.

Looking for more ways to talk to your students and children about inclusion? Check out our Inclusive Book List!

These titles were curated by our volunteer group of special education parents and caregivers, educators, and advocates. Add these great books to your reading lists!

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