Sankofa: Looking back to move forward
In a world of rapid cultural change and divided attention, the concept of Sankofa is something to consider. Coming from the Twi language of Ghana, Sankofa roughly translates: "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten." The Sankofa symbol is a beautiful bird looking back, with a large egg in it's mouth. It has been adopted as a symbol for the African-American and African diaspora. It represents the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future. We cannot ignore or erase our stories and develop our collective humanity at the same time. History has always been an integral part of education because we understand that our past shapes our future. To create change, we must acknowledge where we've come from and imagine a better future together.
DDSD Lunar New Year event was a huge hit!
On January 20th, an historic district-wide Lunar New Year event was held at DDHS. It was organized by the DDHS Asian Student Union with the support of the district's family engagement team and community partners. Over 500 people showed up including families, students, teachers, administrators, and school board members. There were a number of performances from live music (K-Pop) to performances (Lion dancing). The atmosphere was energizing and festive. Our David Douglas community demonstrated their value of connection and cultural celebration! Thank you to all staff members who attended and/or volunteered to support this beautiful event. See pictures below. It has fun to see displays and lessons about Lunar New Year in many schools. Many celebrate the year of the rabbit in 2023 but Vietnam celebrates the year of the cat.
Grow Your Own Update by Amo Reyes
Did you know there are thirty classified staff of color in the Grow Your Own program? And, that a combined eight different languages are spoken by our GYO students? Contact GYO Advisor Amo Reyes if you are a staff of color interested in earning your educator licensure. Please click on the graphic to enlarge.