Hatboro-Horsham School District
Inspiring ALL Learners to Reach their Full Potential
Dear Hatters,
At Hatboro-Horsham School District, we are proud to live by the principle that “ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.” This belief drives our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and equity for all students, staff, and families. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, and we continually seek ways to enhance our cultural competence and awareness.
We are excited to introduce our monthly Inclusive Newsletter, a resource designed to celebrate the diversity of our community and promote meaningful learning opportunities. This newsletter will highlight the unique cultures, perspectives, and stories that enrich our district while offering tools and insights to deepen our collective understanding and connection.
Together, we can create a more inclusive, equitable, and unified community. Thank you for joining us on this important journey.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH - a month long annual celebration and paying tribute to the achievements by African Americans and recognizing their role in US history. The theme this year is African Americans and Labor. The theme highlights the central role that the hard work of African Americans has played in shaping our country's history.
NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY - FEBRUARY 1, 2025
- Observance of the day in 1865 when Abraham Lincoln signed the resolution to later become the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution to abolish slavery.
GROUNDHOG DAY - February 2, 2025
- A tradition observed every year in the US that if a groundhog emerges from its den and sees its shadow, winter will continue for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.
MAKHA BUCHA DAY - February 12, 2025
- A Buddhist festival celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month. It is the second most important Buddhist festival after Vesak. On the day, Buddhists celebrate the creation of an ideal and exemplary community.
VALENTINE'S DAY - February 14, 2025
- A celebration of love in many regions of the world. Common ways of celebrating include exchanging of cards, chocolate candy and flowers.
.
PRESIDENTS' DAY - February 17, 2025
- A holiday in the US celebrated to honor the life and achievements of the nation's first president George Washington and all those who have served as the President of the United States.
WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE - February 20, 2025
- An international day to spotlight the need to promote social justice and raise awareness of the need for more equitable societies. Many international organizations make statements and present plans to tackle issues such a human rights, inequality, poverty, and social protections.
MAHA SHIVRATRI - February 26, 2025
- "The Great Night of Shiva". A Hindu festival celebrating the deity 'Shiva'. The festival is observed on the fourteenth day of the dark (waning) half of the lunar month of Phalguna or Magha. It is a festival marking the remembrance of overcoming darkness and ignorance. Offerings of fruits and sweets are made to Shiva, some fast all day and others may perform meditative yoga.
- RAMADAN - February 28, 2025
- Ramadan is expected to begin the evening of Friday February 28th and will conclude the evening of Sunday, March 30th. The exact dates are contingent upon the sighting of the moon.
To our Hatters families, we hope that you have a memorable holiday season with your family and loved ones.
Previous Month's Newsletters:
Keith Valley Middle School is honoring Black History Month with a variety of engaging and educational activities that span multiple subjects. In 7th grade Science, students will participate in the “Black History Month in Science” module, delving into the groundbreaking contributions of African American scientists and their discoveries that have shaped the world. Meanwhile, 6th grade Math students will embark on a creative research project, selecting a notable African American figure and uncovering significant numbers related to their life and achievements. They will then translate these numbers into mathematical expressions, applying the order of operations to solve and present their findings to classmates, fostering both historical awareness and mathematical reasoning. Additionally, the 7th grade Social Studies team is inspiring school-wide participation through a Black History Month Door Decorating Contest. This initiative encourages homerooms to create vibrant and informative displays that highlight influential historical figures, pivotal events, and cultural contributions. Through these interdisciplinary activities, students will gain a deeper appreciation for Black history, celebrate remarkable achievements, and make meaningful connections across their studies.
Fostering a restorative culture and community:
- Acknowledge the different cultures within our school communities by affirming their presence.
- Provide access to visuals, resources, and recognizing their culture and traditions. All of our students should see themselves in our schools.
- Strive to provide high support to match our high expectations for learning and peer relationships.
- Be mindful of assigning homework, major projects, and tests during holidays
Ways to Promote Growth:
- Acknowledge the different cultures within our school communities by affirming their presence.
- Ask questions to learn more about each other's cultures.
- Challenge yourself to grow your own cultural competence.
- Understand that some religious holidays may require fasting, so continue to be understanding and supportive of each other.
We are stronger together!
Community Connection:
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.
