Hatboro-Horsham School District

As a school district, we truly believe that “ALL ARE WELCOME HERE” and we are constantly looking for opportunities to be more inclusive, build awareness, and develop our cultural competence to be more equitable in our way of supporting our students, staff, and community. This monthly inclusive newsletter will serve as a resource for our staff and families to learn more about the diverse cultures and members of our community.

"What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you."

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pride Month is an annual celebration of the many contributions made by the LGBTQ+ community to history, society and cultures worldwide. Celebrating Pride in our schools will contribute to a welcoming and accepting environment. Teaching our students about the diversity of our schools, community, and world and to be respectful of everyone is a vital character quality that will contribute to making our community stronger.

• CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH - The month of June recognizes the celebrates the Caribbean contributions to American history and culture.

• IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH - Honoring the contributions that immigrants and their descendants have made to our shared history and culture.

• Shavuot - June 11, 2024

• Commonly known in English as the 'Feast of Weeks' and is one of the ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals. The word Shavuot means "weeks", and it marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer.

• Flag Day - June 14, 2024

• A celebration commemorating the adoption of the US flag on June 14, 1777.

• Holy Day of Arafah - June 15, 2024
  

• An Islamic holiday that falls on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah of the lunar Islamic calendar. It marks the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage and is followed by the holiday of Eid al-Adha. The day of Arafah is the day Prophet Muhammed gave his farewell sermon. This day gives the opportunity to seek forgiveness for past sins and earn rewards for good deeds.

• Eid al-Adha - June 15-16, 2024
  
• Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is the second most holiday celebrated in Islam and celebrated to mark the end of the hajj pilgrimage and to honor Abraham. Eid is celebrated through social gatherings, meals, and prayers.

• Father's Day - June 16, 2024

• A holiday honoring fathers, as well as father figures in society. Father's Day is celebrated with gift giving and cards.

• Juneteenth - June 19, 2024

• A federal holiday in the United States to commemorate the ending of slavery. On June 19, 1865, thousands of Union troops arrived in Texas and announced to more than 250,000 enslaved people, that they were free by executive decree. Juneteenth marks our country's second Independence Day. The day can be celebrated through festivals and parties and observing African-American history, culture, and progress.

• World Refugee Day - June 20, 2024
• World Refugee Day brings attention to the plight of refugees and what can be done to help them. This day is to raise awareness in our communities about the ongoing conditions endured by refugees and how everyone can help make an impact to those in need.

• Summer Solstice - June 20, 2024
• Occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the sun. It is also the longest day of the year.

• Eid al-Ghadir - June 24, 2024
• Shia Muslims mark this occasion as a significant holiday commemorating when the Islamic prophet Muhammad appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor.

Family Summer Activities:

• Enjoy time at the beach, mountains, or lake.
• Collect rocks and paint them - Turn their painted creations into pet rocks, garden ornaments, or gifts for family members.
• Take a hike - Choose a route near your house or take a drive to a more distant park.
  
• Take bike rides for fun - Grab your bikes and leave from your house or drive to biking trails.
  
• Camp in the backyard - Pitch a tent and bring out the sleeping bags. Sleep as a family under the stars.

Rainy Day Summer Activities:

• Break out your movie collection or use Netflix - Have a movie marathon complete with popcorn.

• Camp in - Put the sleeping bags on the floor and have a family slumber party.
• Make a time capsule - Have each family member write down something they are grateful for and include a special item in the time capsule. Then, store it away until a designated date. You can open it as early as Thanksgiving Day or as far off as high school graduation.
• Play a card game - Choose from crazy eights, spoons, go fish, or even poker—take your pick. Or buy a board game for the family to enjoy.
• Set a goal and complete a home project - Whether it is cleaning the garage, organizing the basement, or redecorating the spare bedroom, find ways to let the kids help.

Summer Safety Tips:

• Water Safety - Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Swim with A Buddy — Do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or the beach with a lifeguard, use the buddy system.
• Be careful with fireworks - Fireworks are a staple of summertime celebrations, but they can also be very dangerous. Each year, thousands of people are injured by fireworks.
• Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated - It’s important to stay hydrated during summer, especially if you’re spending time outdoors in the heat.
• Keep your skin protected from the sun - Too much sun exposure can lead to skin damage, so be sure to protect yourself when you’re spending time outdoors.
• Bug Safety - Mosquitoes can cause a number of illnesses, including Zika Virus and West Nile Virus. Learn what you can do to protect yourself at work and play.

To our Hatters families, we hope that you have a memorable holiday season with your family and loved ones.

Previous Month's Newsletters:

September 2023

October 2023

November 2023

December 2023

January 2024

February 2024

March 2024

April 2024

May 2024

• Acknowledge the different cultures within our school communities by affirming their presence.
• Ask questions to learn more about each others cultures.
  
• Understand that some religious holidays may require fasting, so continue to be understanding and supportive of each other.
  

• Acknowledge the different cultures within our school communities by affirming their presence.
• Provide access to visuals, resources, and recognizing their culture and traditions.

• Be mindful of assigning homework, major projects, and tests during holidays.
• Understand that not all students participate in what we may consider national holidays or traditions.

As a community, we believe that one of our greatest assets are the many traditions and cultures that are present in our community. We have a commitment to engage our families, celebrate traditions, and build a culture where everyone feels they belong, and spend time learning about one another. One of the best ways to do this and bring people together is through food.

To help celebrate and learn more about the many traditions and cultures in our community, we are inviting our families to share family recipes. Once your recipe is shared, we will then add it to our Hatter Family Recipe Book that will be accessible online for you to consider trying at home with your family.

To add your recipe to our Hatter Family Recipe Book, please click on the link below! If recipes are allergy free and feasible to make, we will partner with our food services department to provide samples for our students to try in our schools to highlight our community and families.

This is a non-exhaustive resource for our community. If there are perspectives that are not included, please provide us with your thoughts and ideas by clicking here.