Dear Team WB,

The month of December is a time of togetherness, reflection, and joy, as our community celebrates the many holidays and traditions that enrich our district. From Hanukkah and Christmas to Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and beyond, this season highlights the beauty of our cultural diversity.

As we move through this month, let’s embrace the opportunity to learn about and honor these traditions in meaningful ways. By fostering inclusivity and understanding, we strengthen the sense of belonging that defines our school community. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to celebrating and supporting the diversity of our district.

Month - Long Observances:

• HIV/AIDS Awareness Month
• Universal Human Rights Month

Daily Celebrations and Recognitions:

• 12/1 - World AIDS Day: helps raise awareness of HIV/AIDs and money to cure it
• 12/2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery Recognizes the need to end all forms of slavery and human trafficking.
• 12/3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations): raises awareness for the rights and well-being of those with disabilities
• 12/5 - International Volunteer Day
• 12/8 - Bodhi Day Buddhist holiday honoring the day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment.
• 12/10 - International Human Rights Day: Adopted by the UN in 1948, celebrates the day it the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• 12/16-12/24 - Las Posadas : Religious festival in Mexico and some parts of the U.S. (primarily those with Mexican-Americans) of the Christmas season
• 12/21- Winter Solstice/Yule: the winter sabbats according to the Pagan and Wiccan faiths
• 12/25 - Christmas: Holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ
• 12/25-1/2 - Hanukkah (Evening of Wed, Dec 25, 2024 - Thu, Jan 2, 2025) Jewish festival of lights commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
• 12/26-1/1 - Kwanzaa: (Thur, Dec. 26, 2024 - Wed, Jan 1, 2025) African American and Pan-African holiday celebrating family, community, and culture.
• 12/26 - Boxing Day Celebrated in several countries with British colonial history, focusing on giving and service to others.
• 12/31 - New Year's Eve Marks the end of the calendar year and is celebrated globally with cultural traditions and festivities.

Theme for 2024: "Ending Modern-Day Slavery"
This day highlights the need to combat contemporary forms of slavery, such as forced labor, human trafficking, child labor, and forced marriage.

Theme: "Enlightenment and Compassion"
Bodhi Day commemorates the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) and emphasizes mindfulness, meditation, and the pursuit of wisdom and compassion.

Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on the 10th of December. It commemorates the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The formal inception of Human Rights Day dates from 1950, after the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V) inviting all States and interested organizations to adopt December 10th of each year as Human Rights Day.

When the General Assembly adopted the Declaration, it was proclaimed as a "common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations", towards which individuals and societies should "strive by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance."

Theme for 2024: "Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All"
Human Rights Day focuses on the promotion and recognition of universal rights and freedoms. Themes may vary annually and often emphasize specific aspects of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Supporting Neurodiversity in Schools

Are you an educator seeking to better support your neurodivergent students? Please consider participating in the following learning opportunities.

• Neurodiversity in Education: Building Understanding, Fostering Affirming Support (15 sessions-virtual)
• Supporting Autistic Students in the General Education Classroom (1/29/25)
• Visual Supports for Autistic Learners that Benefit All! (1/9/25 and 3/20/25)
• Proactive & Positive Classroom Management-STOIC ( 11/22/24)
• Behavioral Foundations Series (monthly session)

The holiday season offers a wonderful chance to celebrate the richness of global traditions while fostering understanding and inclusivity in your classrooms. By recognizing the diversity of celebrations and creating space for all students, we can make this season meaningful for everyone.

• Teach Global Traditions: Explore holidays like Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Bodhi Day, and Las Posadas to highlight cultural variety.
• Encourage Sharing: Invite students to share their family customs, offering personal insights into different traditions.
• Respect Non-Celebrants: Provide inclusive alternatives for students who don’t observe holidays.
• Focus on Shared Values: Emphasize universal themes such as kindness, gratitude, and community, which connect us all.
• Thoughtful Decorations: Reflect the diversity of your classroom with symbols from various traditions.

Thank you for creating an inclusive and respectful holiday environment for all students!