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Parent Resources » LAFSD Celebrates

LAFSD Celebrates

Colorful hands
Dear Lafayette School District Community,
 
I'm excited to introduce  “LAFSD Celebrates” - a set of new resources for supporting our students to engage with our monthly heritage celebrations. We hope that through these lessons, students will even further see themselves reflected in their classroom and learn about other cultures and identities.
 
As you know, LAFSD is a vibrant and growing community, rich with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and languages. It is a long-time value of ours that all of our students, families, and staff feel safe, welcome, and valued in our schools. There are many ways that we do this, of course - including, above all else, teaching with and about respect, kindness, and human dignity.
 
To go a step further, there’s room for our District to deepen our engagement in the monthly acknowledgments of our country’s diversity. It means holding up two complimentary values: that we all share so much in common, and that we all have aspects of our identity that make us unique. LAFSD Celebrates resources can, we hope, help to create a deliberate, regular way in all our classrooms for students’ learning, discussion, and curiosity. 
 
Thank you for joining me to celebrate Lafayette. Together, we can create an inclusive and supportive environment for our entire community.
 
Warmly,
Brent Stephens
Superintendent
Hands raised in air
multicolor flags
Monthly School Year Celebrations

 

August………………………..….Identity and Diversity

September/October.……………Latinx Heritage

October……….……….…….…..LGBTQ + History  

November……………...….….…Native American and Indigenous People Heritage

December/January….……….…Celebration of Lights 

February………..….……………Black History  

March………………….……..….Women’s History and Ability Awareness 

April……………….…………..…Arab and Muslim Heritage 

May………………..……….....…Asian American/Pacific Islander and Jewish American Heritage

 

Additional Recognitions:

21 Days of Kindness Campaign (September) 

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (November)

Transgender Day of Visibility (March)

Pride Month (June) 

 

Through these monthly heritage and celebration events, we hope to help students see themselves reflected in the classroom, further build empathy for others, and learn about the cultures and identities of others. Combined with other strategies, LAFSD Celebrates helps us honor various communities throughout the year, recognizing our shared commonalities and celebrating the strength found in our diversity.

 

We want to…

  • Ensure consistent opportunities for students to engage in learning about themselves and others.
  • Establish predictable communication with families about monthly heritage celebrations, including what events are happening and when.
  • Take a holistic approach to considering the needs and experiences of our entire community.
  • Facilitate the sharing of resources among teachers to support these initiatives.

 

For each celebration, students will experience at least one classroom lesson and at least one school-wide activity.

 

Grades TK-2 Learning Goal: 

  • I can continue to learn more about myself and others in and outside my community.

 

Grades 3-8 Learning Goal: 

  • I can expand my understanding of many communities and cultures.