Inclusion means something different for everyone. It can simply be to be included within a group. But it can also mean to be included within a culture, with traditions, and a feeling of relevance within a larger culture— or for example, on a school campus. Inclusion is an action word that needs to be present at our school so that everyone feels like they belong. It might come across as not ‘that important’ but is an essential practice that when done correctly and with the right intention, it is something that is felt on a deeper level.
Persons with disabilities are a vulnerable group that at times may not be included in a larger group due to people’s ideas or biases. And sometimes, even when included, they can “just be there”, present in a room, but not belonging. Usually other people become a voice for them, as they may not have the skill to advocate for themselves. This can include their families and friends.
“I would like our PHS student community to know that our students in the Functional Skills Program are teenagers, who enjoy many things that every teenager enjoys, like music, art, dancing, video games, sports, etc." - Ms. Rodriguez
When persons with disabilities are the students in our own school, then the whole campus becomes their voice.
What is Functional Skills?
One program at PHS, the Functional Skills (FS) Program, is taught by the dedicated teachers Ms. Watson and Ms. Rodriguez. The program focuses on teaching students with disabilities the skills that are needed to live independently, if possible. The students follow a daily and weekly routine that both teachers review on a consistent basis. The 35 students are split into two groups, and each group has a set schedule they follow for the day. They engage in Functional Academics for ELA and Math, Domestic and Health & Hygiene learning opportunities, US Geography, and PE.
“Most of our students' favorite class is PE, because they enjoy swimming at the Cove," says Ms. Rodriguez.
With all of this learning and fun going on, I wanted to learn more about our FS program and see my peers in action. With the permission of our advisor, Ms. Kendall, Ms. Watson, Ms. Rodriguez, and my teachers, we arranged half a day to get a sense of the types of activities that our FS students do. This experience has been extremely beneficial and meaningful to me and I thank all involved for having this program on our campus, and allowing me to be a part of it.
Belonging on our Campus
Ms. Watson, the teacher and advisor of the Life Skills Club, showed me the importance of one activity on campus that her group does. On this particular day, the club was in charge of the recyclables around campus, which they routinely gather and sort out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In this activity they worked on teamwork, as they went in groups to specific locations and rooms to collect the recyclables. The aides, who guided the walks around campus, were very helpful and needed. While they helped, they also allowed the students to do the activity. Part of that was to knock on the room and greet the teacher, and ask if there were recyclables to collect. Communication was a main skill that was being practiced. The students were very happy, confident, and excited as they entered the rooms and greeted others. Some greeted verbally, while some only with a hand or a smile. Either way, interactions were happening. The students in the classrooms were also very receptive, and there were teachers who knew the FS students by name.
Ms. Watson explained how extremely grateful she is for the PHS staff's collaboration with the students and their efforts to collect recyclables. This is the time when her students interact with the teachers and staff, with simple greetings as they collect their recyclables. This is when her students feel a sense of connection on campus. These interactions and conversations are very important to her, much is gained for her students, and hopefully for others.
At the start of the year, Ms. Watson reached out to all staff who wanted to participate, and she set up blue recycling bins for any teacher who wanted to be a part of this activity for her students. This is a great way to get to know all students on campus.
The Functional Skills Team: A Team of Collaboration
The next step after collection which can take an entire period of class or more, is the sorting and bagging of recyclables.
As they sorted the recyclables, I observed the skills it took to do this. The skills of math were being practiced as they counted and sorted different materials. Teamwork was practiced, as they all worked on sorting and bagging the bottles and cans, ready for Manny, our custodian, to take it to the recycling center for them (Thank you, Manny!). I heard the students encourage each other to help bag or sort, and this promoted a sense of collaboration. In a sense, they had created a team of their own with a specific objective in mind, just like any other group on campus would do, and with the help of others on campus.
Physical Education and Fun
After all the work, there was also fun! My shadowing experience ended with FS students headed to PE, where I had so much fun playing games with them in the gym. Mr. Stewart and Mr. Hortemiller, the two PE teachers in charge, have an amazing energy, and conduct all sorts of fun games with their students. I asked what other activities PE FS students do. The answer, from volleyball with beach balls on the tennis courts or the gym, to playing soccer or basketball, walking and jogging the track, to doing weights in a work-out room, FS kids can move!
Also, on some particular days, our ASB students come in to mingle and play games. I also observed a few other students, who were chosen by Ms. Kendall, to be part of the FS PE class to help students achieve their motor skills goals with their Adaptive teacher, Jordan Badders.
The Life Skills Club Activities
This recyclable activity not only provided interactions with the rest of the campus and collaboration amongst themselves, but it also provided some of the funding with class field trips, which I thought was awesome!
Richard, the Vice President of The Life Skills Club, mentioned how they had recently enjoyed a day at a bowling alley and the mall. Other activities included Thanksgiving potlucks, where students participate in learning the preparation of foods, as well as enjoy each other's company with board games.
Manny, President of The Life Skills Club, exclaimed he likes this tradition, mostly due to the “good food and the time he spends with his classmates”.
What Can We Do to Ensure Functional Skills Students Belong?
The Functional Skill students have a club that welcomes and is open for anyone to join! Their club officers are a great trio of boys. Manny is the president, Richard the Vice President, and Jonny, Treasurer. They hold their meetings Thursdays during lunch and take great pride in their work. If interested in learning life skills through teamwork and communication or intrigued in learning more about getting involved, please see Ms. Watson in Room B151.
Additionally, saying “hello” in passing is something simple that is just like we do with others, and it acknowledges everyone. But I think, having conversations is something that maybe we all need to work on as a campus. Just getting to know one another is something so simple yet important for all students to really connect with one another.
And just like with any other student on campus, being a voice for FS students is important. While they have aides with them, we can also do our part by saying something we see or hear that is not appropriate. We can help with activities they have, and we can help physically with something they need help with.
A special thanks goes out to all the aides who help our FS students on a daily basis, and Manny, our custodian on campus who helps the program by taking the recyclables to the recycling center every two weeks for them.
About Ms. Watson
Ms. Watson has been a teacher at PHS for 12 years and has taught the Functional Skills Program during all 12 years. Her daughter was a great inspiration for what motivates her each year to continue.
Her first baby girl was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Like many parents who are faced with the challenges of having children with a disability, she did not know what to do, or what resources her daughter would need to be supported. She relentlessly searched for resources and looked into every type of therapy for her daughter, and eventually found what worked for her and for her family.
She is extremely proud of her daughter, who graduated from our very own PHS. Ms. Watson continues to teach students, who like her daughter, can benefit from inclusive practices. When explaining why she enjoys teaching here at PHS, she said “It is all for her."
About Ms. Rodriguez
Ms. Rodriguez has been a teacher at PHS for the past 10 years. She believes in building a community with her students in which they feel like they belong; where they can grow as they learn, and feel valued as a group and as individuals.
She is helping prepare the students for the Functional Skills Spring Games at the JUSD Adult Transition Program on March 18, 2025. This event will include all the Functional Skills classrooms from TK to the Adult Transition Program at Rubidoux High School’s football field. The event will host around 145 students from our district. She feels that these events foster opportunities to participate in fun hands-on skills activities, such as, seated volleyball, relay races, smoothie-biking, corn hole, and more, but also create a community of support for each other.
“I would like our PHS student community to know that our students in the Functional Skills Program are teenagers, who enjoy many things that every teenager enjoys, like music, art, dancing, video games, sports, cars, fashion, movies, makeup, Starbucks, etc. Our students in the Functional Skills Program at PHS are valuable community members who take pride in helping their school through the Life Skills Club.”
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