Together we will engage in intentional, strengths-based legacy work by pushing boundaries through storytelling and abolitionist teaching as we unite to disrupt the systems that threaten the educational freedoms of our community. We will work to harness and include the power and wisdom of historically marginalized and traditionally non-dominate communities. It will take the action of pushing boundaries and decolonizing our policies, processes, curriculum, and mindsets so that we can achieve ultimate freedom from the shackles of a variety of injustices that we, our students, our families, and our communities face daily.
Here is the Monthly Themes lesson link to complete prior to National Unity Day next Wednesday, October 19th. A couple slides I took over, FYI. Link: September & October Monthly Themes.pptx
Unity Dayis this Wednesday, October 19th. The purpose of Unity Day in schools is taking a stand against bullying as a whole community. It is up to us all to make this happen, “when we stand together, no one stands alone.”
This year, Franklin will be honoring Unity Day by:
·Remembering to wear orange to show being loud a proud taking a stand against bullying.
·Please share the attached flyer in your Parent Square messaging as well. Posters are all over the school as well.
·Completing a schoolwide Unity Day project. See directions below.
· Whole school picture, students and staff on Wednesday, October 19that 9:40am in the A-pod line up area facing the building between the big toy and A-pod building. Look for your cones with class name on it. Visual picture attached for line up. An IA will be helping as well.
Instructions for the schoolwide UnityDay project:
Check your mailboxes for colored hearts and writing prompts Friday afternoon.
Red-Kinder Orange-1stYellow-2nd Green- 3rd Blue- 4thPurple-5th. Please have students pick one prompt (or you can decide on one as a class), write on the heart, and return the heart by end of the day Wednesday, October 19th . Please have students use a flair pen or marker to write so others can read them.
· I can be kind by _________.
· It is important to do kind things for others because ________.
· Paying kindness forward can make a difference in the world because _________.
· If everyone in the world just did one kind thing each day ________.
· I promise to _________.
Please return your classroom hearts to Priya in the library or mailbox and we will hang them up where the whole school can see them UNITED AS ONE. We will let you know when the tree is completed.
I know this email is a bit long, but it includes information about our November Equity Topic, as well as resources for use around Thanksgiving (most are simply grab and go!).
Nov Equity Topic: Native American Heritage Month
Home Connection (copies will be placed in your box this week, connects to the whole school read aloud):
November is Native American Heritage Month: At Franklin Elementary, we believe that it is important to learn about cultures and traditions that are different than ours, while also celebrating who we are as individuals. For this month of November, we will be recognizing Native America/Alaskan Indian Heritage Month through a variety of whole school and classroom-based activities. If your family is interested in hearing more about Native American Heritage Month, or you would like to be involved in our learning and celebration, please reach out to our Assistant Principal Katherine Epstein at kepstein@lwsd.org. To learn more about Native American Heritage Month, go to https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/ If you would like to hear more from your classroom teacher about which books your teacher is reading to the class, please reach out to the teacher via their email.
Comparing Point of Views on Thanksgiving (designed as an intermediate extension for The Truth About Thanksgiving & The First Thanksgiving): Comparing POVs about Thanksgiving.pptx
Since Time Immemorial Curriculum resources. For those unaware, the OSPI STI curriculum is a state-mandated curriculum, and will be legally required to be taught once our next social studies curriculum adoption happens (Adoption committee forming this year ). Having taught the STI curriculum for several years, I would suggest primary doing lesson 1 this year, then doing lesson 1 and 2 next year, so that you are ready to teach all 4 lessons the following year. These can also be taught at the intermediate level if you are looking for culturally respectful thanksgiving materials for this year.
Elementary Pathway 3, Grades k-3: Giving Thanks, A Native American Cultural Tradition
Linked below is the Monthly Theme for December, focused on diverse holidays. Talk with your students about the power of listening to other stories, similar or different from their own as this is the core purpose. Intermediate, in your boxes you will find a reflection sheet for your students to fill out while listening to presentations and take home with them. After each presentation, I encourage calling on a couple students to share what they wrote. Primary, you could do the same without the writing piece calling on students to share out what they learned and/or thought was cool after each presentation.
We recognize that not all holidays are included and look forward to sharing more as we continue learning about the different holidays celebrated within our community. Lohri will be added by the end of day tomorrow as parent permission was finally granted this afternoon, FYI. If a student mentions a holiday being forgotten or wants to expand knowledge on a holiday that’s presented, please send me name and allow space for them to share.
Attached you will find a list of books to read with your class connected to this theme.
Link: December Monthly Theme 2022 .pptx. Please show to your class by early next week, starting Wednesday. I will take of sharing with the rest of the Franklin community.
Ben Franklin Elementary
September & October Monthly Themes.pptx
Nov Home Connection Primary.pdf
Indigenous Experiences
Franklin Library Books Nov.docx
Duck for Turkey Day- Celebrating Thanksgiving.pptx