ABERDEEN, S.D. – A new physical education class at Simmons Middle School is fostering student friendships and creating a culture of inclusivity at the school.
Inclusive Physical Education at Simmons includes general education eighth graders and special education students in sixth through eighth grades.
The class is a collaboration between Physical Education and Health Teacher Cassidy Neer and Special Education Achieve Teacher Chelsea Ashmore, who got the idea after seeing several instances of their students showing empathy for their classmates.
“We saw a lot of examples of kids having that natural skillset to include,” Neer said.
This is the first semester Simmons has offered the Inclusive PE class. Students alternate between working together in the health classroom and in the gym, with activities centered around friendship, kindness and wellness.
“I look forward to this time of my day,” Neer said. “It challenges us to adjust and adapt and make it engaging for all the students. I’ve had a lot of fun with it and I’m so honored that we even get the chance to do something like this.”
Neer said they do activities that everyone can participate in. It’s important to give special education students an opportunity to not only be in the class, but to be a big part of the class.
“I think that gives them an identity and it gives them a place of belonging,” she said, “because they deserve to have that feeling.”
The general education eighth-grade students who are in the Inclusive PE class chose to be part of the class rather than a traditional PE option.
“The kids are here because they want to be,” Neer said. “They chose to be in here. When they show up every day smiling, it could light up any room. But it’s so cool to see their leadership. That is truly intrinsic.”
Ashmore said they have seen students who haven’t shown leadership in other areas who now step up to be a leader in Inclusive PE.
They also see students spreading that empathy and inclusivity into their other classes as well.
‘You Get to Make New Friends’
Eighth grader Lainey Skinner said she chose to be part of the class because she wanted to interact with other people and try something new.
Also, “I like being a safe space for people to go to,” she said.
Family friend and sixth grader Kiera Mills is also part of the class.
“This is my friend,” Kiera said of Lainey.
They are both excited to be in the class together, and they have a lot of fun together.
For other students considering taking Inclusive PE, Lainey offered advice.
“Just do it,” she said. “It’s fun. You get to make new friends and do things that you couldn’t do before.”
‘We’ll Do it Together’
Fellow Simmons eighth grader Joy Drevlow also offered advice to students considering taking the class.
“It’s going to be different than what you’re used to,” she said. “… But I think that it’s good, and it gives you a lot of experience with including people. It makes it easier outside of the class, when you see someone, just including them in your group.”
Her friend and classmate, Kendra Green, also shared advice.
“Don’t be afraid,” she said. “We’ll do it together. We got this.”
Making Inclusion the Standard
Inclusion is something Neer and Ashmore would like to make the standard at Simmons.
“We don’t want to do it from time to time, we want to do it every single day,” Neer said. “… Just normalizing inclusion. That’s our biggest thing.”
While they hope to continue offering Inclusive PE in the future, they also hope that one day it becomes unnecessary.
“I feel like this class is kind of the training wheels, and hopefully eventually we don’t need specifically inclusion classes,” Neer said. “Hopefully one day we get to the point where Chelsea can go on and make a schedule for her kids, and no matter what class they’re in, it’s inclusive.”
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About the Aberdeen Public School District
The Aberdeen Public School District provides a comprehensive educational program to approximately 4,200 students in grades K-12, with a mission of empowering all students to succeed in a changing world. Our students receive the knowledge and skills necessary to reach their potential in a global community through high expectations of academic achievement; diverse educational opportunities; and community involvement in a safe, supportive environment. Learn more at aberdeen.k12.sd.us.