Celebrating Inclusivity at B’nai Shalom’s Reading Week

B’nai Shalom Librarian Bobbijean Spellman ensures there are books available to students that represent individuals from all walks of life.

B’nai Shalom will host its annual Reading Week March 3-7.  This year’s inspiring theme is inclusivity and celebrating physical and neurodiversity and aligns with the school’s commitment to embracing differences and fostering understanding and acceptance from a young age.

The inspiration for this theme came from ongoing professional development on neurodiversity presented to staff by School Counselor Sarah Cronin and Librarian Bobbijean Spellman. Reflecting on this work, Spellman remarked, "We grow up scared of things that are different from us. The more we can address that early in a child's life, the better." The school aims to help students recognize, appreciate, and celebrate differences, paving the way for empathy and inclusion.

At B’nai Shalom, the foundation for this theme is already strong. Representation in classroom materials, social-emotional learning (SEL) programs, and courageous conversations lay the groundwork for inclusivity. And while the staff acknowledges that they are on a learning journey, they recognize the importance of having these conversations as they continue to learn and grow. SEL lessons on empathy, courage, and kindness naturally tie into the broader goal of inclusion.

Reading Week activities will bring the theme to life in meaningful ways. There are plans to invite speakers from all walks of life to share their stories and lead the students in activities that will challenge them to think differently.  In addition, the school will invite a visually impaired guest to read a story in braille which will showcase for students the power of adaptive skills and determination.  

All of these experiences are designed to teach students that a disability simply reflects a different set of abilities. Spellman summed it up best: “A person may not have all the abilities you do, but you don’t have all the abilities they do, either.”

B’nai Shalom believes that diversity is not something to fear, but to celebrate and the school’s hope is that it empowers its students  to embrace differences with love and acceptance.