Miller Elementary School Celebrates World Read Aloud Day
P-CCS celebrated World Read Aloud Day on Wednesday, February 6. Mrs. McGuire, Media Specialist at Miller Elementary, coordinated with six diverse authors around the world to meet with classes virtually to read their books to students. The authors who participated were Sita Singh (Mango Memories), Dustin Brady (Trapped in a Video Game), Rochelle Melander (Mightier Than the Sword), Marzieh Abbas (Awe-Samosas!), Wendy Shang (The Rice in the Pot), and Darshana Khiani (How to Wear a Sari). Students were able to hear the books directly from the authors, and then had an opportunity to ask the authors questions ranging from "where are you?" to "what age did you start writing books?" Thank you so much to Mrs. McGuire for coordinating this wonderful opportunity!
Celebrating DEI Initiatives
Is your school or department doing something to celebrate or highlight diversity, equity, inclusion, or belonging? We would love to hear about it and share with colleagues! If there is something you would like highlighted in our newsletter, please send information to Katie Ilijic at katie.ilijic@pccsk12.com.
In 1981, Congress passed Public Law 97-28, which authorized and requested that the President proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as "Women's History Week." Over the next five years, Congress passed similar joint resolutions. In 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March 1987 "Women's History Month." Congress continued to pass similar resolutions from 1988-1994. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating March as "Women's History Month." These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements that women have made over the course of American history.
Each year, the National Women's History Alliance selects a theme. The theme for Women's History Month 2025 is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations."
The background for this month's newsletter is artwork by Judy Baca titled La Salsera/The Salsa Dancer (2022). For over 40 years, Dr. Baca has created public art that is shaped by the relationship between history, people, and place. Dr. Baca focuses on diverse peoples' struggles for their rights. La Salsera features a dancing woman filled with monarch butterflies - the symbol of immigrants and migrations. Behind the dancer are caretakers pushing babies in strollers. This mural shows the transformation of hardship into resilience and joy. More information about Dr. Baca and her art can be found here.
For more resources that may be helpful as we observe Women's History Month, please visit the links below:
Since 1911, March 8 has been recognized around the world as International Women's Day. This day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This day also serves as a call to action for promoting gender equality around the world.
The theme for International Women's Day 2025 is "Accelerate Action." This theme emphasizes expanding the movement to achieve gender equality by addressing systemic barriers and biases that women face in personal and professional spheres.
For more information, please see the resources below:
Holi, often referred to as the "Festival of Colors," is a Hindu festival that celebrates the beginning of spring - a season of hope and new beginnings. In 2025, Holi will be celebrated on March 14. Each year, Holi falls on the full moon day (Purnima) between the end of February and the middle of March, during the Hindu month of Phalgun.
Holi is typically celebrated by people of all ages wearing white and throwing colored powder (gulal) or colored water at one another. In the evening, people generally gather with their families and friends to enjoy festive foods, sweets, and togetherness. Holi encourages people to renew efforts at becoming good humans, to reflect on past misdeeds, improve routines and interactions, and continue to make progress in life. On Holi, you can greet students by saying, "Happy Holi."
For more information, please see the resources below:
At the end of March, Muslims across the world will honor and celebrate Eid al-Fitr. In 2025, Eid al-Fitr is expected to take place on Sunday, March 30 or Monday, March 31, depending on the sighting of the moon. This religious holiday, celebrated by Muslims worldwide, marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Traditionally, Eid al-Fitr is a three-day holiday known as the "Festival of Breaking Fast." Eid is typically celebrated with prayer, feasts, parades, gifts, and chartable donations.
Students have shared that previously they have had to make the difficult decision not to participate in family celebrations because they must attend school. Please be mindful of this and try to avoid scheduling assessments, major projects, etc. on these days. In accordance with Policy 5200, students who miss school because of an excused absence, including an absence for religious observance, should not be expected to complete homework, tests, or other school work during their absence.
Please see the resources below for additional information:
March 31, 2025 is Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), which is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and victories of transgender and gender-expansive people. TDOV also raises awareness about all of the work that still needs to be done to combat discrimination and violence. TDOV was founded in 2009 by Rachel Crandell Crocker, a license psychotherapist and the Executive Director of Transgender Michigan.
Please see the resources below for additional information:
Mindfulness means maintaining awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. Mindfulness means being present, in the moment, without judgment. With stress levels for educators and students at an all-time high, practicing mindfulness is more important than ever. Mindfulness can help us relieve stress; improve sleep; improve brain functions such as learning, memory, and focus; and enhance relationships.
How do we practice mindfulness? The key components to mindfulness are:
- Breathe: pay close attention to your breathing.
- Notice: really notice what you are sensing in sights, smells, and sounds that you might usually ignore.
- Recognize: that our thoughts and feelings are fleeting - they do not define us. We can break free from negative thought patterns.
- Tune in: to your body - notice the way you are sitting or standing. Notice where you feel emotions in your body.
- Find: small moments of mindfulness to reset your focus during the day.
Engaging in mindfulness activities does not have to take a long time, and it does not necessarily mean listening to long, guided meditations (although it certainly could!). An easy, quick way to practice mindfulness is to remember the acronym P.E.A.C.E.
- Pause - when you become aware of of challenging, frustrating, or stressful event or interaction. Stop what you are doing, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in.
- Exhale - with a sigh. Then continue to breathe in and out. Each exhale should include an audible sigh.
- Accept - the situation for what it is, whether you like it or not. Accept your reaction, without judgment. Try to observe the event from a third person perspective.
- Choose Clarity - choose how you will respond to the situation and your emotions. This may not happen in the moment. That's okay.
- Engage - with people, with the situation, with life. Find people who you trust to help you through this process if you need it.
For more information, please see the resources below:
P-CCS Hate and Bias Reporting Form
This is a safe online reporting platform for P-CCS students/families to document incidents of hate and bias in our schools or at school-related events.
Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students
At P-CCS, we are committed to creating and fostering an educational environment for all students that is safe, welcoming, and free from stigma and discrimination, regardless of a student’s sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression. Additionally, we will work to ensure that we are in compliance with local, state, and federal laws concerning bullying, harassment, privacy, and discrimination while ensuring that all students have the opportunity to express themselves and live authentically.
What do "gender expression" and "gender identity" mean?
To honor students' opportunities to express themselves, P-CCS welcomes students regardless of their gender expression and gender identity. The P-CCS Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students Policy (Policy 5517.03) defines gender expression and gender identity as follows:
- Gender Expression: the manner in which a person represents or expresses gender to others, often through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, activities, voice, or mannerisms.
- Gender Identity: a person's deeply held sense or psychological knowledge of their own gender, which can include being female, male, another gender, or no gender. Gender identity is an innate and largely flexible part of a person's identity. One's gender identity can be the same or different from the gender assigned at birth. The responsibility for determining an individual's gender identity rests with the individual. Children typically begin to understand their own gender identity by age four, although the age at which individuals come to understand and express their gender identity may vary based on each person's social and familial development.
Please click here to read the entire Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students Policy (Policy 5517.03) for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Katie Ilijic (She/Her/Hers)
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance
Email: katie.ilijic@pccsk12.com
Website: https://www.pccsk12.com/departments/teaching-learning/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
Location: 454 South Harvey Street, Plymouth, MI, USA