Greetings, Dear Colleagues! ! We find ourself approaching the homestretch of the school year as we begin April. Spring is definitely in the air. Students will begin to get restless y. Keep at it, dear teachers. Your work is impactful even when it sometimes feels like a lost cause. Stay strong to the finish line! You got this! This month we get to celebrate Autism Acceptance and Arabic Heritage Months and highlight a few other celebrations that members of our community celebrate in April. Please use any of the resources shared as you find helpful for teaching in your classroom. Buckle up, this issue has a whole lot in it!

https://mrsmoesmodifications.com/10-autism-awareness-activities-for-schools/

The department of Student Services at DDSD put together the following Community Events and information for us. Thank you Amy Ballard!

Below you will find teacher resources for Arab American Heritage Month

This Jewish Passover Holiday Commemorates the deliverance of Jewish people from Egyptian slavery and begins before sundown on Saturday, April 12, 2025, and ends after nightfall on April 20, 2025. It celebrates the Israelites's freedom from. Egyptian slavery.

Also known as “Holocaust Remembrance Day,” Yom HaShoah is marked by memorials and dedications to those who perished in the Holocaust.

Each year, the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum hosts a commemoration to honor survivors and remember the victims of the Holocaust. St. Louis survivors share eyewitness accounts of the Shoah, followed by music, liturgical readings, and prayers.

Day of (No) Silence

Day of Silence is an annual day of action organized by GLSEN to spread awareness about the effects of the bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students.

Eid-al-Fitr marks the end of the Ramadan fasting period. Families celebrate this time by gathering together, feasting, celebrating and saying prayers. They enjoy sweets and go on outings and often buy children new clothes.

Riḍván, a holiday of the Bahá'í faith: is a twelve-day festival in the Bahá'í Faith commemorating Bahá'u'lláh's declaration that he was a Manifestation of God.

7 Ways to Celebrate the Festival of Ridvan at Home

Baha'i Blog

https://www.bahaiblog.net › holy-days-bahai-calendar

Easter Sunday also celebrated on April 20th this year is observed by those of the Christian faith and is the commemoration of the Jesus' resurrection from death after being crucified.

There are so many wonderful expressions of cultures, values, and faith traditions in our world and we are are lucky enough to work in a diverse district that reflects these celebrations in our community to ensure each student and staff member experiences being celebrated and seen. In the Essential we do our best to reflect the people within our district with what we currently know. If you are aware of a celebration that some of our community members celebrate that has not been highlighted, please reach out to

Equity Department equity_department@ddsd40.org