Contents
The New Voices Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Team aims to create a school culture that promotes an inclusive, diverse, and equitable learning environment where all students feel that they belong and that their experiences and perspectives matter.
We aim to cultivate and integrate our students’ diverse identities into every area of our school culture, providing them with opportunity for creative expression and student voice.
“When I dare to be powerful– to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
Audre Lorde (1934-1992)
Important Dates:
| March 3, 2023 | New Voices School Pride Day | |
| March 9, 2023 | Parent Workshop: Internet Safety (6:30p) | |
| March 13, 2023 | New Voices DEI Team Meeting | |
| March 14, 2023 | D15 Equity Congress | |
| March 15, 2023 | D15 Student Equity Congress | |
| March 30, 2023 | Parent Workshop: Study Skills (6:30p) | |
| April 3, 2023 | New Voices School Pride Day | |
Celebrating Lunar New Year
January 22, 2023
We celebrated Lunar New Year with a student created display on our central bulletin board:
Celebrating Black History Month
February 2023
In the Arts:
In Chorus:
In February, Chorus majors were studying the artist Joséphine Baker. Joséphine Baker was an American born singer who decided to renounce her American citizenship to become French. She sought a career as a performer and knew she would have more opportunities as a Black woman in France. During World War II, she spied for the Allies and helped to shelter people escaping the Nazis. Though she left America, she continued speaking out against segregation and advocating for equal rights.
6th and 8th grade chorus students are working on preparing pieces in the genre of jazz. Jazz flourished in Black communities, drawing from the blues and ragtime styles popular in the 1800s. We listened to renowned Black jazz performers like Ella Fitzgerald and Esperanza Spalding to gain inspiration for our pieces, “On The Sunny Side of the Street,” and “Orange Colored Sky.”
In Dance:
Dance forms that originate in Black dance traditions were highlighted this month, including Jazz, Hip Hop as well as more specific dances such as those of Uganda. In addition to learning physical movements, dance majors study the history and progression of these forms and the people that developed the styles or individual dance moves. Students then identified these historical and cultural influences in current dance trends.
In Visual Art:
Visual Art majors focus on the creation and use of masks as a form of representation throughout various cultures. This study focused on artist Nick Cave, who is currently showing at the Guggenheim museum.
In the Academics:
To celebrate and align practices around Black History month, the DEI team provided all humanities teachers with lesson materials to analyze the poem “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman. This poem highlights the diversity of our country and ourselves. It prompts the reader to examine hardships in order to not return to the past. It asks us to consider the ways we can be brave enough to help move our country and our individual selves forward.
Celebrating Respect For All Week
February 13-17, 2023
To kickoff Respect for All Week students were greeted during morning arrival with a message of respect and information on what to do if someone in their community says something that makes them uncomfortable. Students were also given bracelets bearing inspirational messages to remind everyone to stay positive and be kind.
Student Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Team
Students have the opportunity to participate in furthering the equity work being done at our school by participating in conversations about current events related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as help plan community-wide diversity events.
Ms. Gonzales, a 7th grade humanities teacher, is the group advisor.
Our Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team for the 2022-2023 has begun meeting this month and meets twice per month. The student team consists of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Student Equity Team is holding a bake sale. All proceeds from the bake will go to the Malala Fund, an international non-profit organization that advocates for girls’ education.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Team Updates
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Team is a collaboration between parents, teachers and administrators. We meet monthly to discuss, identify and implement change within our school community as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
If you are interested in joining the New Voices DEI team, please email:
lkraus2@schools.nyc.gov or dpignataro@schools.nyc.gov
This year, New Voices teachers are working with organizations in order to review CR-SE (Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education) practices and ensure the inclusion of these practices in the classroom.
Teaching Matters
The Humanities Team is working with Carrie Esposito from Teaching Matters. Teaching Matters is a non-profit organization that believes all students should have equitable access to education. Through work with this organization, our teachers are making sure that relevance, rigor, relationships, and reflection are incorporated into each lesson. The focus for us has been putting a common language to what we do in the classroom. We will also be adapting their Elevated Voices curriculum in order to bring a social justice aspect to book clubs.
Metamorphosis
The Math Team is working with Metamorphis to increase teachers’ awareness of the power they hold in reducing inequities through culturally responsive teaching. Through careful planning and attention to culture and community, in addition to content, the math department is continuing their work to build classrooms as truly integrated and equitable democratic spaces.
Math Department Book Club
Members of the Math department are reading “Making Black Girls Count in Math Education” by Nicole M. Joseph. In this book, the author investigates factors that contribute to the underrepresentation of Black female students in the mathematics pipeline. She offers an historical context as well as strategies and recommendations to improve mathematics attainment among Black girls and women.
GSA News
The New Voices Gender and Sexuality Alliance has members across all three grades! GSA is a safe space for students to meet, support each other, and talk about school, life, and current events as well as participate in service-learning projects.
The New Voices GSA was at the forefront of Respect for All week. While greeting everyone upon arrival, GSA members handed out bracelets with positive messages.
The GSA is using their creative talents to celebrate the diversity of our community by creating multi-media art projects. These projects will be displayed throughout New Voices for April’s Diversity Month.
Through funding from the NYCDOE LGBTQ Supports Team, the GSA received a generous grant that will allow us to bring projects to life, jump-start fundraisers, and purchase supplies. The GSA continues to be an integral part of our community, allowing students to socialize across grades, make new friends, and discover new interests in a safe space for all students.
NEW VOICES | MS 443 