Month and Week Acknowledgements
February is dedicated as Black History Month, honoring the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history, including the civil rights movement and their artistic, cultural and political achievements. (Here are 120 things you probably didn’t know were created by Black inventors!)
While this is traditionally a time to share and show support of Black and African Americans, celebrating accomplishments and drawing attention to Black excellence can be exploitative if we do not also recognize and act on the fact that much of the oppression and pain felt by our Black friends, family, colleagues, and community members are very in the present, not only the past.
Just days before Black History Month began, the world was once again witness to brutality and lack of humanity directed at a Black person. The anger, the exhaustion, the need for action, change, and accountability, is real and present. Not imagined. Not past tense. Just as the contributions and excellence and accomplishments of Black Americans are not something found only in history, the suffering of Black people in America is alive and well today.
Source: Black History Month and Black History from History.com
February 1 - 4: Fuller Drama Company presents Disney's Frozen JR.
The Fuller Drama Company and the Framingham Public Schools Department of Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) are proud to present Disney's Frozen JR. during several upcoming performances between February 1–3, 2024. We are so excited to welcome all ages to Arendelle for this heart-warming show in a variety of performance opportunities.
Upcoming Performances at Fuller Middle School (31 Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA 01702)
Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 4:00pm: Sensory-Friendly, Open Dress Rehearsal (Free) Seats are first come, first served!
Friday, February 2, 2024 at 7pm (Buy Tickets)
Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 2pm (Buy Tickets)
Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 7pm (Buy Tickets)
February 1: National Freedom Day
Specifically, the holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when President Abraham Lincoln signed what would later become the 13th Amendment. This amendment is so important because it helped end the physical slavery in the United States. National Freedom Day has been celebrated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since 1941.
Source: National Freedom Day
February 1: Imbolc
Imbolc, also called Saint Brigid's Day, is a Gaelic traditional festival that marks the beginning of spring, and is celebrated from Feb. 1-2. Imbolc is not only celebrated by people who follow one particular religion, as it can and has been celebrated by Christians, Pagans, Wiccans and Agnostic people who just want to welcome in the springtime.
Source: Imbolc
February 2: Groundhog Day
Source: Groundhog Day by Britannica
February 2: Candlemas
Candlemas, a Christian holiday, is a solemn and worshipful time, a time to try to be “a light in the world.” Also known as, the 'Feast of the Presentation of the Lord', it is celebrated forty days after Christmas. On this day, many bring candles to their churches to be blessed. The candles represent Jesus and the day of his induction into Judaism, and they go toward explaining the name of the holy day, Candlemas. There are as many additional traditions and various guidelines for the observance of Candlemas as there are different sects and denominations of Christianity itself.
Source: Candlemas from CatholicCulture.org and Candlemas Day – February 2, 2024 from National Today
February 2: Lailat al Miraj / Shab e Miraj
Shab-e-Miraj is another name for Lailat-Al-Miraj. It is Muslim holiday observed on the 27th of Rajab in the Islamic calendar each year. Within Islam, Isra and Mi'raj refers to a miraculous nighttime journey undertaken by the Prophet Muhammad, in two legs. First from Mecca to Jerusalem, and then from Jerusalem to the heavens. According to QuranFocus.com, Muslims consider Shab e Meraj to be one of the pivotal moments in Islamic history, recognized as a national holiday in several Muslim nations so that people can take the day off to observe it. To celebrate it, each Muslim community has its own traditions and rituals. Some Muslim families would set up some nice decorations around the neighborhood with candles and twinkling lights to brighten up the neighborhood at night. They may also serve various delicious meals and sweets to their families as they celebrate it.
Source: Lailat al Miraj/ Shab e Miraj
February 6: Safer Internet Day
Started by ConnectSafely, a Silicon Valley-based nonprofit that educates people about online safety, privacy, security and digital wellness, Safer Internet Day encourages everyone to come together and play their part in improving the internet.
This international event is celebrated in more than 100 countries and has a global theme of Together for a Better Internet. In the U.S., they are focusing on five topics:
Media literacy and critical thinking
Civility
Picking on peers
Wellness, identity and self-respect
Scams, predators and creeps
Need a resource? Explore the Family Program resources or a 'by parents, for parents' collection of guidebooks that demystify apps, services and platforms popular with kids and teens. Feel free to download, print and share: https://www.connectsafely.org/parentguides/
Source: Safer Internet Day
February 5 - 9: National School Counseling Week
National School Counseling Week 2024 (#NSCW24) focuses public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA (American School Counselor Association), highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February.
The 2024 theme is School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused.
Source: ASCA
February 7: FPS Crossing Guard Appreciation Day
Happy (FPS) Crossing Guard Appreciation Day to the dedicated individuals who ensure the safety of our students as they journey to and from school. Today, we express our deepest gratitude for your commitment and care! 🎉
Visit our post on Facebook on February 7th to share your stories, shout-outs, or a picture of our amazing crossing guards. Their dedication to the well-being of our students is truly appreciated. Here's to our guardian angels of safety! 🚦👋
February 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is implemented by UNESCO and UN-Women to promote women and girls in science. This day both calls attention to the gender gap that has persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world AND acts as a reminder that women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities and that their participation should be strengthened. Diversity in research expands the pool of talented researchers, bringing in fresh perspectives, talent and creativity. Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields.
February 12: International Epilepsy Day
International Epilepsy Day is the brainchild of the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy. It is a special awareness day that takes place on the second Monday in February to shine a light on the challenges faced by people living with epilepsy.
Epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder, is the fourth most common neurological disorder and one of the oldest-known medical conditions. The condition causes electrical activity in the brain to stop for a short time, which leads to recurrent seizures. Even though 65 million people in the world live with epilepsy, there is still some stigma around the disease. International Epilepsy Day exists to educate the general public about epilepsy and to teach people how to provide better care for people living with the disorder.
Here are some resources from the Epilepsy Foundation to learn more about what a seizure looks like and what to do if you see someone having a seizure. The more everyone talks about epilepsy, the less people living with the condition have to fear discrimination, worry about receiving improper first aid, or keep their epilepsy hidden in the shadows.
Source: International Epilepsy Day (National Today)
February 11 - 17: Random Act of Kindness Week:
According to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, Random Act of Kindness Week takes place February 11th - 17th. The goal of Random Act of Kindness Week is to improve schools, the workplace, families, and society through kindness. Even one small act of kindness can mean a great deal to somebody. The world can be selfish and cruel sometimes and not everyone receives the same kind of support they need. In such a world, it is important for us to constantly be reminded to be kind to one another and to give others hope whenever we can. A small and random gesture of kindness can go a long way.
Explore ways to instill kindness at school, at home, and at work: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/
February 14: Valentine’s Day \ Friendship Day
Valentine’s Day, also called St. Valentine’s Day, is a holiday when people express their affection for loved ones and friends with greetings and gifts. Who is the mysterious saint and where did these traditions come from? Explore the meaning and history of Valentine’s Day, from the ancient Roman ritual of Lupercalia that welcomed spring to the card-giving customs of Victorian England: https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2
Additional Source: Britannica.com
February 14: Ash Wednesday
Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. On Ash Wednesday, observers of Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Nazarene faiths and more will have ashes applied to their foreheads in the shape of a cross. People generally wear the ashes — which symbolize penance, mourning and mortality — throughout the day to publicly express their faith and penance.
Sources: Ash Wednesday from Christianity.com and more info from Time.com
February 15: Law Enforcement (SRO) Appreciation Day
Bridging gaps between youth and law enforcement, SROs are valuable and essential members of the education community and they deserve unwavering respect and support from the public in the pursuit of keeping schools and students safe.
SROs are full-time law enforcement officers with sworn law enforcement authority, trained in school-based policing and crisis response and assigned by an employing law enforcement agency to work with schools using community-oriented policing concepts.
This day was established by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) to encourage schools and communities to recognize School Resource Officers who support the students and communities they serve.
February 15: Nirvana Day (sometimes celebrated on February 8th)
Nirvana Day, also called Parinirvana, is a Buddhist Holiday that remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached Nirvana at the age of 80. "Nirvana" is believed to be the end of the cycle of death and rebirth. Buddhism teaches that Nirvana is reached when all want and suffering is gone.
Sources: Learn Religions or an article on BBC.co.uk
February 19: Presidents’ Day
Conceptually this is a pretty simple holiday, but given time and change, it is actually a bit tricky to explain! In short, this holiday was originally celebrated as George Washington's Birthday. The National Holiday expanded to celebrate all U.S. Presidents and to be consistent by an annual observation on the third Monday in February which is why it isn't always held on the same date. It is one of eleven permanent federal holidays established by Congress.
Now for the tricky part! According to Almanac.com, George Washington celebrated his birthday on February 22 and listed his birth year as 1732. When he was born, the Julian calendar was in use. During Washington’s lifetime, people in Great Britain and America switched the official calendar system from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. As a result of this calendar reform, people born before 1752 were told to add 11 days to their birth dates. Those born between January 1 and March 25, as Washington was, also had to add one year to be in sync with the new calendar. To summarize, Washington’s birthday changed from February 11, 1731 (Old-Style Julian calendar), to February 22, 1732 (New-Style Gregorian calendar).
February 20: World Day of Social Justice
Observed annually on February 20th, World Day of Social Justice focuses on the plight of social injustice throughout the world and creates space to press for improvements and solutions. There are many social justice issues in the world today. Gender inequality, systemic racism, and unemployment are just a few. Much of the world’s population, through no fault of their own, are deprived of basic facilities, such as homes, jobs, healthcare, education, nutrition, and more. It is the responsibility of the privileged to ensure that we can create a just world where social justice is a norm.
Around the world, teachers and parents alike also use this day to teach the young children in this world about the ideologies of social injustice and why it is important; so the next generation won’t make the same mistake like the ones before so we can all live a happy, safe, fulfilling life without fear. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Conversation Starter: What can you do to promote social justice?
Source:
https://www.baker.edu/about/get-to-know-us/blog/what-is-the-world-day-of-social-justice/