Students at Byrd Elementary School celebrated Thanksgiving on Tuesday with the same spirit the Pilgrims and Native Americans shared in 1621: inclusion.
Just as the English settlers and Wampanoag Indians came together to feast and give thanks at the end of a successful harvest, 4K and special needs students came together with family and friends to share breakfast at the school's first One Table celebration.
Sabrina Romero said Aiken's annual One Table community-wide dinner in The Alley on Thanksgiving Day inspired her to do the same at Byrd.
“We decided to bring the One Table into the school from the community and have our regular ed children placed along with our special ed kids,” said Romero, who works with early learning, special education teacher Ivey Savage. “We wanted them to be one group, to come together and to be included."
Older special education students served the breakfast, which included grits with cheese, sausage, ham, and fresh berries and grapes for the children.
“We wanted our children to be included regardless of their ability, not their disability,” Romero said.
Family and friends chose from plates piled high with muffins and pastries.
Byrd Elementary teachers and aides developed the menu and prepared the food.
Read the full Aiken Standard article here.