During the week following World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, McCullough Elementary School held its first annual "Autism Acceptance Spirit Week". Students and staff were encouraged to celebrate how people with autism are different and amazing.
Daily themes varied and included “Magnificent Mind Monday,” during which students wore hats and were encouraged to think about how brains work in different and wonderful ways. Other dress-up themes featured rainbow/tie-dye clothing (to acknowledge the diverse spectrum of the human mind), wearing something they love (to celebrate the incredibly focused passion of people with autism), wearing blue (to light it up blue), and Penn-Trafford spirit wear (to show that everyone is united in school spirit).
“I wanted to celebrate Autism Acceptance in a creative way that engaged all of the students and staff at McCullough,’ said Miss Freger who organized the awareness week. “My hope is that we can have this spirit week annually at McCullough to promote kindness and acceptance amongst our students and staff, regardless of the differences we might have.”
Miss Kochasic, Hassan Malik (grade 1), Miss Freger, and Gianna Acker (grade 4) on hat day
Mrs. Patula's afternoon Kindergarten Class on rainbow/tie-dye day
Mrs. Skoretz's afternoon Kindergarten students each wear something they love
Miss Freger and Gianna Acker
Mrs. Stagno's 4th Grade Class on Penn-Trafford spiritwear day