Over Chanukah, students at IVDU Long Island were privileged to join in exciting inclusion activities with two local mainstream schools, Bnos Bais Yaakov and Yeshiva Darchei Torah. The IVDU girls joined Mrs. Gul’s third grade class for a fun and interactive game of Bingo, where the girls enjoyed playing the game and receiving prizes along with their peers. They then created beautiful edible “menorahs” to finish off an exciting trip!
IVDU’s boys were honored to join the second grade of Yeshiva Darchei Torah for an interactive Chanukah assembly, where they danced together, participated in a Chanukah Bingo game, and received special Chanukah gelt from Rabbi Bender. Inclusion opportunities like these offer a mutually positive social experience for both the mainstream student as well as their peers from self-contained special education programs like IVDU. From the feedback heard by rebbeim, teachers, and principals alike, the programs were both incredibly successful. IVDU would like to thank Rabbi Stickman and Rabbi Avrohom Bender for welcoming the inclusion opportunities so wholeheartedly, and to thank Morah D. Kurland and Mrs. Gul of Bnos Bais Yaakov for so warmly hosting and making the IVDU students feel comfortable.