"Heritage Week" (think Spirit Week!) is 5 days of meaningful immersion into another culture, where students of all backgrounds are given opportunities to make connections in a variety of significant ways. Tuesday was "Nation Builders/Myths of Africa" Day; Wednesday was "Ancient Egypt Day"; Thursday was "Learn Through Play" Day and Friday was "Tribal Paint Day."

Mrs. Stewart's first grade class honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and learned about the African Genius, Imhotep through a cultural activity This activity helps students gain appreciation for other students’ identity, beliefs, values or areas of interests. The students created and completed an ''identity portrait'' that shows what profession they might choose to serve in.

3rd grade students at Driswood Elementary learn about themselves and others as they analyze and apply little known facts about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the African Genius Imhotep. Imhotep was an Astronomer, Physician, Philosopher, Mathematician, Poet and Architect. (Pictured: Cultural Diversity Coordinator Tanya Dallas-Lewis in Mrs. Brumback's 3rd grade classroom)

The students of Mrs. Baer's art classes researched various achievements of African American's throughout history. The hand-drawn portraits and written summaries that were designed by art students were used to create a display board that is posted in the hallway, providing fellow students an opportunity to learn more about American history.

Students have five different opportunities (spread out through the entire week) to connect via meaningful cultural activities that allow students to see themselves, and learn from someone who may be culturally different from them. Students learned and participated in a Tribal Paint activity, as well as recreated models of black inventions using Lego pieces! The game of Chess originated in Africa; Garrett Morgan invented the traffic signal.

Washington High School honors Hispanic Heritage!

Shaping world citizens and leaders, every day, in every way! #hispanicheritagemonth

See how Wildwood Middle School honors culture by creating engaging learning events that recognize and celebrate our Hispanic Culture. We have incorporated announcements and activities in our morning announcements throughout the last 3 weeks. The art classes have been creating Day of the Dead papier mache masks and they are on display with our Day of the Dead altar in the hallway. I have shared a Google Document with others in the building promoting Hispanic Heritage month. Try looking in your shared Google Docs, I may have sent it to you as well. Mary Weyant, Anne Lewis and Dalia Rodriguez have been instrumental in contributing their time and objects to our Day of the Dead altar. Their knowledge and excitement about our altar piece is contagious! Our students, families, faculty and staff have been encouraged to bring in pictures of their loved ones and their pets to include in our shrine. It is starting to evolve and changes every day. We also have a special visitor in our office, a Cavalera! He brightens our day and reminds us to honor and respect all people. During MTSS, our virtual students watched the video of, Rene Has Two Last Names and completed their questions. Our in-school students watched the video and researched the meaning of their name and created an art piece with historical information about their name and what it means. They are displayed in our 8th grade hallway and look great!

Fourth-grade SES teacher Liz Sutherland used the picture book “Mr. Lincoln’s Way” by Patricia Polacco. Through this read-aloud, students were able to see a balanced and non-stereotypical representation of a member of the marginalized community. According to Mrs. Sutherland, the book served as a door to “amazing discussions, thoughtful questions and best of all curiosity and communication.” It didn’t stop there! Because the book challenges students to think about diversity in another way, her students followed up this story by using art as an expression, comparing the many different types of birds there are in the world, with the many different types of people in the world! The beautiful paper birds her fourth-grade student created are now hanging on display in the hallway!

S Art teacher Amanda Groff introduced students to "Dia de los Muertos" with clay and origami Calaveras and papel picado. “You should have seen the joy on my one Hispanic student's face when I introduced the lesson and read my read-aloud...she read the Spanish translation after I read the English page,” recalls Mrs. Groff. Art classes also covered Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama and Frida Kahlo with the younger grades. What a warm way to create an environment that feels socially and intellectually safe, allowing students to expand their global dexterity in a space that communicates care, support, and belonging in ways that students can tangibly recognize! Representation matters!

I wanted to share a few photos from our February projects: 5th grade "quilt" squares inspired by 3 black artists/groups of artists (named in the photo) 4th grade Romare Bearden Harlem collages 3rd gr Basquiat expressive drawings 2nd gr Alma Thomas-inspired radial designs (Not pictured 1st grade Faith Ringgold story quilts) Amanda Groff SES