In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, we have collected and distributed resources to staff which can be utilized within their classrooms.

In the Chorus Classroom:

In 7^th grade chorus, we are preparing a piece called “Ikan Kekek,” a Malaysian folk song arranged by Yu Hang Tan. Students are working on pronouncing different words in the Malay language and accompanying this new style of singing with complex body percussion. The song tells the story of two siblings fishing for their dinner and the arranger wants us to “keep searching for beauty and magic in everyday mundane life”

^{Images shown: 7th Grade Chorus Majors; Yu Hang tan}

On April 5th, our student equity team organized a day of awareness for autism. Students and faculty were asked to wear blue in an effort to increase visibility, become more educated about, and support people with autism spectrum disorder.

Eighth-grade Humanities classes dove into local history during a study of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Working in groups, students analyze primary-source documents in order to discover what was happening in New York City during this time period and how the actions here played a role in the Civil Rights Movement across the country. After document analysis, students designed and created Thinglink presentations to share with each other and the community. Some of these projects will be displayed at the District 15 Project-Based Learning Showcase on May 24th. You can see a few examples of the final products below.

To learn about the 1964 World’s Fair Boycott and Stall-In, click here.

To learn about the Ebinger’s Bakery Boycott, click here.

To learn about Operation Clean Sweep, click here.

To learn about the 1964 New York City School Boycott, click here.

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.

Each month, members of our Student DEI team meet with other District 15 students to discuss issues of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This is an opportunity for cross school collaboration and community building.

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

Student Designed Diversity T-Shirt Contest:

This year’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion T-shirt Design Contest has concluded. We got many excellent submissions this year and would like to thank all of those students who participated.

Our winning design will be available for purchase in the fall of 2023: