June Events & Holidays in RTMSD
Learning About Our Community & Our Cultures
A Collaborative Effort
Welcome to June, and the end of the 2025-2026 school year!
In 2023, a dedicated group of parents, teachers, students, and administrators met monthly to review and discuss the many cultural holidays and other events that occur throughout the school year. This group collaborated to create a list of holidays and events that we will recognize, instruct, or celebrate in our schools. Our community chose the holidays and events you will see each month in this newsletter.
Please email Ralph Harrison if you have any suggestions or ideas about our monthly events and holidays. We honor Dignity by taking the time to learn about the cultures of all of our community members. The events/holidays are listed in the order they occur during the month. For more details, please click on the "Resources" links.
Our work in the RTMSD with cultural proficiency is ongoing. The more we learn about ourselves, our unconscious biases, and our impact on others, the better we show up for each other. These newsletters are merely scratching the surface of cultural proficiency. We serve 5-year-old children through 18-year-old young adults. They all notice how the adults in our schools and community treat each other through both actions and words. Building a strong foundation in cultural proficiency, alongside the language and framework of restorative practices, positions us to model the respect, empathy, and accountability we expect from our students.
Thank you for your continued support of the Rose Tree Media School District. Have a safe summer that is filled with making lasting memories with your family and friends.
Ralph Harrison
Administrator for Safe and Inclusive Schools
Caribbean American Heritage Month
What it is:
A month-long celebration recognizing the contributions of Caribbean Americans to U.S. history, culture, and society.
Brief history:
Caribbean American Heritage Month was officially established in 2006 after years of advocacy led by community organizations and lawmakers. The celebration highlights the long-standing presence of Caribbean immigrants and their descendants in the United States, dating back to the 1800s. It recognizes their impact across fields such as education, public service, music, and literature, and encourages learning about the diverse cultures of Caribbean nations.
Did you know:
June was chosen in part because many Caribbean nations celebrate their own independence days during this time of year.
Resources:
Caribbean American Month Resource
Pride Month
What it is:
A month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ identities, culture, and contributions, while promoting equality and inclusion.
Brief history:
Pride Month traces back to the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969 in New York City. After a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, members of the LGBTQ+ community protested for several days, marking a turning point in the fight for civil rights. The first Pride marches were held in 1970 to commemorate the anniversary. Over time, June became a month of recognition, advocacy, and celebration across the country and around the world.
Did you know:
Each color in the Pride flag represents a value, such as life, healing, sunlight, and spirit.
Resources:
Anne Frank Day
June 12, 2026
What it is:
A day to remember Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager whose diary documented her life in hiding during the Holocaust.
Brief history:
Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929, in Germany. During World War II, her family went into hiding in Amsterdam to escape Nazi persecution. While in hiding, Anne wrote in her diary, sharing her thoughts, fears, and hopes. After her death in a concentration camp, her father published her diary, which became one of the most widely read accounts of the Holocaust and a powerful educational tool.
Did you know:
Anne Frank’s diary has been translated into more than 70 languages.
Resources:
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Resource
Loving Day
June 12, 2026
What it is:
A celebration of the 1967 Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriage in the United States.
Brief history:
Loving Day honors Mildred and Richard Loving, an interracial couple from Virginia who were arrested in 1958 for violating state laws banning interracial marriage. Their case eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 1967 that such laws were unconstitutional. This decision was a major step forward in civil rights and affirmed the freedom to marry regardless of race.
Did you know:
The Lovings chose to fight their case quietly and simply wanted to live as a married couple in their home state.
Resources:
Flag Day
June 14, 2026
What it is:
A day honoring the adoption of the United States flag.
Brief history:
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing an official flag for the new nation. The design has changed over time as states were added, but the 13 stripes have remained to represent the original colonies. Flag Day began to be observed in the late 1800s and was officially recognized by Congress in 1949.
Did you know:
There are specific guidelines, known as the U.S. Flag Code, that outline how the flag should be displayed and cared for.
Resources:
National Flag Foundation Resource
Juneteenth
June 19, 2026
What it is:
A federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Brief history:
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The day became a time of celebration, reflection, and community gatherings. It was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, reinforcing its national significance.
Did you know:
Early Juneteenth celebrations often included music, food, and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Resources:
Father's Day
June 21, 2026
What it is:
A day to honor fathers, caregivers, and father figures.
Brief history:
Father’s Day began in 1910 in Spokane, Washington, led by Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to recognize her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children as a single parent. The idea gained support over time, and in 1972 it was officially declared a national holiday. The day recognizes the role fathers and caregivers play in supporting families and communities.
Did you know:
Father’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for phone calls in the United States.
Resources: