Dear HM Families,
The school is still buzzing from our wonderful curriculum night last week. It was so great to see the excited faces of the students as they led their adults around the building to show everyone what life in school is like each day. Many parents/caregivers in attendance got a chance to see current and former teachers and spaces, look at student work, and share in some fun activities. It was great to have the community together again.
Last week, the HM staff gathered for our first Culturally Responsive Instruction (CRI) Professional Development session co-led by myself and our school leadership team that includes: Helen Guzzi (Librarian), Loriann Akdag (4th grade teacher), Emily Bard (3rd Grade Teacher), Anne Baseggio and Barbara Kwan (ELL teachers). Culturally Responsive Instruction is the Professional Development focus for all 15 Newton Elementary Schools this year, and for our first few sessions, we have been focused on the following goals:
Continue to raise awareness and create opportunities for staff growth through self-reflection and discussion. We share and discuss experiences of both staff and students for the purpose of reflecting on our experiences, biases (explicit/implicit), joys, and commitments.
Critical literacy - We provided a tool and a process for teachers to use to evaluate classroom texts, activities and other materials to foster critical thinking with students about the author’s purpose, message, and audience.
Continue to define Horace Mann Values and describe what Hawk Values might look and sound like in our classrooms and in our school, for both students and staff.
"Why the focus on CRI?" CRI is for everyone. CRI is an approach that makes meaningful connections between what students learn in school and their cultures, languages, and life experiences. In fact, all instruction is culturally responsive. Our focus on CRI allows us to further commit to considering how we are centering and inviting students of all identities to be their authentic selves in our school, throughout all moments of the school day. As you know, HM is fiercely committed to this work.
I wish you a wonderful weekend!
Mark
Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 - Oct. 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month. This year’s national theme is Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation - there are lots of great local events. |
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Boston's Latino Pioneers / Los Pioneros Latinos de Boston
Sept. 15 - Oct. 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month. This year’s national theme is Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation - there are lots of great local events.
Saturday, October 8, 12-1 PM Connolly Branch Library 433 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain Film screening is followed by a panel discussion featuring director Blanca Bonilla with some of the "Pioneers."
Latino Pioneers in Boston is a documentary featuring 8 Latino Leaders in Boston and their migration journeys, and the project highlights the critical role and contributions that Latinos have made to the City of Boston. |
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Monday, October 10th, Indigenous Peoples' Day
Classrooms have the opportunity to Indigenous Peoples' Day this week and next week. Some resources are listed below. You will note that all of the picture books listed include an author who is a member of an Indigenous Nation. As we engage with holidays and months that recognize certain identities/groups, it is essential to center and amplify the stories and voices of actual individuals/groups who are representative of the day/month. Asking elementary students to consider questions like: "Who wrote this text?" and "Why do you think this author wrote this text?" are important literacy skills that support critical thinking and ones that can also be done at home.
Picture Books
What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal - Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger
Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story -S.D. Nelson
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story - Kevin Noble Maillard
We Are Grateful: -Traci Sorell
Indigenous Peoples Day Newton |
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Monday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Albemarle Park
We hope you will join us for this annual event to celebrate and honor Indigenous people. This fun, family-friendly outdoor event will feature dozens of Indigenous artists and over 20 Indigenous vendors! There are lots of ways to get involved and support this Indigenous-led event! |
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Donate It is important to pay the Indigenous artists and speakers fairly for their contributions to this unique and special Newton event. Help support this effort by making a donation today! Indigenous Peoples Day Newton is fiscally sponsored by NOPI - Nonprofit Incubator, a program of NOPI INC, a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation and 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 81-5089505. Learn more at https://thenopi.org. |
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Attend Spend the whole day or drop by for a while. Learn about Indigenous dance, music and art. Visit the FORJ table, catch up with old friends and meet new people. Shop the marketplace and enjoy some delicious Indigenous food. |
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Volunteer Whatever your skill-set, there is a job for you! Want to staff the FORJ table? Email erica@forj.org |
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Newton Free Library - Indigenous Peoples Day Program |
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Water Protection Rights and Spirituality Tuesday, October 18 at 6:30pm (Newton Free Library on Zoom).
Join us as we honor Indigenous Peoples Day at a special program that will open with traditional Danza and prayer, and will be followed by a panel discussion on Water Protection Rights. The participants will be Hiawatha Brown (Narragansett Elder), Liz Santana-Kiser (Nipmuc Elder) Kasike Jorge Estevez (Taino) and Robert Quesada (Mexika/Aztec).
Learn about: Indigenous Spirituality as it relates to water Issues concerning water quality, fishing rights and industrial pollution Land rights and what we can do to contribute to equitable access for all Cosponsored by Indigenous Peoples Day Newton
Register here.
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