Celebrating International Peace Day with Students and Staff
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, Canton Township, the Canton Rotary Club, the Canton Chamber of Commerce, and Plymouth-Canton Community Schools honored the International Day of Peace. The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations, with the message that in a world mired by conflict, inequalities, and discrimination, we must strive to promote dialogue, empathy, and human rights for all.
A special thank you to the following staff and students: Cari Soranno and her East Middle School students and Donna Page and her Kids Time Summer Camp students who provided artwork demonstrating what peace means to them; Chrystelle Rasolonjatovo, a teacher at Canton High School; Jamie Nowak, the academic and behavior support specialist at Discovery Middle School; and P-CCS students Aditi B., Pragati B., Harper I., Masaki U., and Mizuki U. who all read messages of peace at the event.
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.
For decades, people have honored and recognized Columbus Day with the belief that Christopher Columbus was the first explorer to arrive in America. While historians and history books often depict this as truth, we know that prior to Columbus's arrival in what is now known as the "Americas," Tribal nations and Indigenous communities populated the western hemisphere. We know that Indigenous people experienced enslavement, theft, murder, and the attempted eradication of their history and culture. The conversation regarding Indigenous Peoples' Day dates back to 1977, when the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, sponsored by the United Nations, first proposed replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Indigenous Peoples' Day is now a national holiday to celebrate Native American customs and heritage. The state of Michigan recognizes the presence of three major tribal groups in our state: the Chippewa (Ojibwe), the Ottawa (Odawa), and the Potawatomi (Bodewamik), who have lived upon our land since time immemorial. Under the leadership of Governor Whitmer, Michigan first recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2019. President Biden became the first president to issue a proclamation in 2021 in recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day. This year, Indigenous Peoples' Day falls on Monday, October 14, 2024.
The background for this month's newsletter is artwork by Jeffrey Gibson entitled I Want to Shine Like the Sun. Gibson was born in 1972 in Colorado. His work fuses his Choctaw-Cherokee heritage and his experiences of living in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
Below, you will find resources that can be used for additional information and learning.
Since the 1980s, October has been designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month to raise public awareness of Down Syndrome and advocate for the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome is a genetic condition where an individual has three number 21 chromosomes, instead of two. This extra genetic material changes how their bodies grow and learn. In the United States, there are approximately 450,000 individuals with Down Syndrome.
For more information about Down Syndrome and Down Syndrome Awareness Month, please see the resources below.
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness: It's about respect, inclusion, love
Since 2006, in the United States, October has been designated Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying can occur in many ways; it may be verbal, physical, through social exclusion, or digitally via email, text, social media, etc.
The Centers for Disease Control reports that students who are bullied are more likely to experience low self-esteem and isolation, perform poorly in school, have few friends in school, have a negative view of school, experience physical symptoms, and experience mental health issues. Effective bullying prevention efforts involve students, parents, teachers, and community members to address larger issues of disrespect, bias, and violence that can contribute to bullying issues in schools. A community-wide effort shows students that adults care about what happens to them and that they are not alone.
For more information about National Bullying Prevention Month, please see the resources below.
National Bullying Prevention Month Student Activity Kit
Bullying Facts: What you need to know
Classroom Education and Activities
National Bullying Prevention Month 2024: Meaningful Activities and Ideas for Schools
Friday, October 11, 2024, is National Coming Out Day. The first ever National Coming Out Day was recognized and celebrated on October 11, 1988. Educators are often safe people for students. In fact, for many students, there may be no other person or space that is safe. Below, please find a list of resources that you may reference as you support students, staff, and families.
When a Student Comes Out to You...Today or Any Day!
The 2024 election season is upon us and will be among the most closely followed in American history. As we empower our students to understand the workings of the democratic process, this is also an opportunity for all of us to engage in learning about respecting differences among people.
While we all live in the same world, our experiences, thoughts, and feelings toward and within that world are vastly different based on who we are, where we are from, and how we take in and process information. It is not our responsibility to change how another person sees or experiences the world; it is impossible to do so. As we move through this election season, we must all remember that we do not have to agree, but we can demonstrate tenderness toward the experiences that have shaped others' realities.
One thing we can do to respect differences during this time, is to check in with ourselves to ensure we are sustaining our own health and well-being. The following eight questions provide guidance to check in with yourself:
- What's happening in my mind and body today?
- If I'm feeling distress, what can I do to soothe myself?
- Am I getting enough good news?
- When do I feel good about the current state of things?
- What am I grateful for today?
- How can I connect with other people?
- What are some ways I can use my unique skills or talents to make a difference in my community?
- What future would I like to see and what steps can I take today to work toward that future?
For resources specific to holding discussions in the classroom and reminders for teachers, please see the September Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion newsletter.
P-CCS Hate and Bias Reporting Form
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 is Title IX?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally-funded education programs and activities. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has issued guidance recognizing that Title IX protects transgender students against discrimination based on their gender identity. Additionally, the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice have stated that under Title IX, "discrimination based on a person's gender identity, a person's transgender status, or a person's nonconformity to sex stereotypes constitutes discrimination based on sex," and asserted significant interest in ensuring that all students, including students who are transgender, have the opportunity to learn in an environment free of sex discrimination.
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
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Email: katie.ilijic@pccsk12.com
Website: https://www.pccsk12.com/about-p-ccs/departments/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
Location: 454 South Harvey Street, Plymouth, MI, USA