1. Department Updates
2. MLK Day
3. Holocaust Remembrance Day
   
4. National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
   
5. Upcoming Events
6. Religious Holidays

To check out more from the Equity department, go to our webpage: https://www.iowacityschools.org/equity

How to Report Bullying, Harassment, & Other Forms of Victimization (Students)

We want all of our students to feel safe and supported. Harassment, bullying, hazing, and other forms of victimization are prohibited in the Iowa City Community School District. If you or someone you know has been victimized, you are encouraged to report the incident(s) in one of two ways:

• Report bullying, sexual harassment/assault, or a school safety concern anonymously by text:
• TEXT: @SAYIT
• TO: 833-769-0372
• Contact your school administration to file a complaint.

Please report as soon as possible.

Visit https://www.iowacityschools.org/SaySomething for more information.

This month we'd like to highlight two important pieces of our district's RJ Initiative. The first is a Black and Brown Girl's day of Enrichment that was hosted by the Equity Department, and the second is the amazing work Ms. Chelsea Sims is doing with Justice League!

Ms. Chelsea Sims, SEJH Teacher Librarian, provides an update on Justice League:

What is Justice League?

Justice League is a group of students focused on community building through weekly circles. As students gain skills as participants in circle, they will begin to develop their own circle keeping skills as well.

What's going on in our buildings?

A group of 8 6th graders at Lemme Elementary have created their own Justice League, inspired by the visiting Justice League members from South East Junior High. The Lemme Justice League meets once a week during recess to build community through games and crafts.

They plan to do more circles with librarian Lisa McDonough, and their teachers, Lisa Hall and Holly Ruble, and continue to invite more 6th graders to join. Members have also taken on leadership roles in the school by creating skits that help with PBIS and becoming reading buddies with younger grades.

*Pictured: Kevin, the Hotdog talking piece.

On December 8th the Equity Department was excited to host an event for our girls of color. This was a day of empowerment and engagement for black and Latina secondary school girls. These students were referred by administrators due to a growing number of conflicts that had risen during the first trimester.

Students participated in various workshops where they learned about Implicit Bias, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), Self-Reflection, and they were able to have a Q&A panel with some of our amazing staff!

Watching these bright young women build community with one another while engaging in this important learning was so empowering, and we know they will all do great things moving forward!

From the Equity Team, we'd like to thank our students for showing up and participating!

- Eriniah Carter, 11th Grade

Students participate in an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) activity with Principal Debbie Bennett.

We want to offer our most sincere thanks to all of the volunteers and employees that took time out of their day to come participate in this important event, we couldn't have done this without you. A huge shoutout to; Dr. Kathy Jenkins, Kimberly Fitten, Debbie Bennett, Maureen Beran, Krystal Jossell, Monique Cottman, Letrenda Soukup, Ebony Hawkins, Taylor Scudder, Colleen Davis, John Bacon, Tianna Newell, Jarita Johnson, Angie Jordan, Gabrielle Williams, Olantha Fields, Valerie Quarles, and the ICCSD Equity Team

Once again our Community Cares University of Iowa athletes have been showing up to our schools and building relationships with our students!

In the month of December, University of Iowa athletes have spent time at Lucas, Twain, and Grant Wood.

• At Lucas the athletes greeted all students as they entered into the building and did a panel discussion with the 5th and 6th students.
• At Twain the athletes greeted all students and helped with breakfast. After breakfast a few players went to a few classes and then went to PE to play a kickball with the 4th grade class.
• At Wood, athletes greeted students as they entered school and then visited each class to briefly talk with students and to take a class photo.

It is so important to our Community Cares folks to come out and meet with our kids. These are impactful relationships that our students will carry with them throughout their time with us in this district. We appreciate all of their hard work and dedication to their community!

Community Cares meets with elementary classes and participates in group panel discussions.

UIowa Athletes meet in front of Grant Wood Elementary

Many students have utilized the new options in Infinite Campus to hide their legal names in the system. Our staff have done an amazing job of learning this new system and facilitating these changes to make things as seamless as possible for students.

We wanted to provide clarity on what paperwork DOES and DOES NOT require a student's legal name.

Students DO need to have their legal name on their official transcripts. This will be generated through our system even with the new changes, but if you do not see your legal name on your transcript, please contact your counselor, building secretary or admin right away. However, transcripts must be reissued if a student legally changes their name after graduation.

Students DO need to have their legal name on paperwork when dealing with CollegeBoard for AP test scheduling. The name used when a student takes an AP test must match the legal name they are required to use when they apply for financial aid for college (the FASFA form), If the students' legal name does not match the name they used when taking the AP test, they may have trouble applying the college credits they earned by passing the AP test to their college degree audit.

Students DO NOT need to have their legal name on their diplomas. The Iowa City Community School District guidelines state that "diplomas be issued with the preferred names of students. In addition, the preferred name of each student will be listed in graduation programs and read aloud at the ceremony." High School diplomas are separate from students’ academic transcripts and are considered more of a cosmetic document.

Click here if you'd like to learn more about our LGBTQ+ Supports, or contact the Equity Department.

January 16th is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day! This is a federal holiday marking the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and is observed on the third Monday of January each year. January was chosen because of Dr. King's birthday, and the closeness to the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, which is celebrated on January 1st.

Soon after Dr. King's assassination in 1968, a growing movement called for a commemorative holiday to be created in his memory. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, but it wasn't until 2000 that all 50 states officially observed the date.

What is MLK Day?

On this date, we honor the work of Dr. King by looking back at his achievements, as well as the many others that have contributed to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist, a Baptist minister, and a key figure in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968.

To learn more about the life and work of Dr. King, click here.

How Do We Celebrate?

ICCSD commemorates this important holiday by creating lessons, hosting events, and inviting guest speakers to our schools as we examine the history of the civil rights movement, and the work that still needs to be done.

The life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. cannot be contained to a single day. The message he preached should be carried with us every month of the year.

January 27th 2023 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, one of the largest concentration camps in World War II. This day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly, to honor the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, and missions of other victims of Nazism.

This is also a day to promote Holocaust education, and to take a stand against antisemitism and bigotry. We would like to wrap around our students, families, staff, and community members who are Jewish, are of Jewish decent, and any who have felt the impact of the Holocaust.

If you're interested in learning more, please watch the 2023 International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration below, and explore the resources below:

• Statement by President Biden on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
• International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
• National Archives: Holocaust Remembrance Day

What can you do in your classroom?

• Holocaust Remembrance Day Lesson Plans & Activities - PBS
• Holocaust Lesson Plans - U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Resources for Educators - Yad Vashem The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It is a time for all to educate themselves about human trafficking, and learn to spot the signs of trafficking. Over 20 years ago, in 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was passed by congress, which solidified our commitment to fighting against human trafficking in our country, and around the world. Since then, many Presidential Proclamation have been given each year to raise awareness of the issue. To learn about these proclamations, click here.

What is Human Trafficking?

"Human trafficking is a crime in which force, fraud, or coercion is used to compel a person to perform labor, services or commercial sex. It affects all populations: adults, children, men, women, foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, and all economic classes. The Defense Department continues to raise awareness and do its part to end this crime." - U.S. Department of Defense.

How Can You Learn More?

• 20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking
• Human Trafficking Hotlines
• Hope For Justice
• Downloadable Awareness Materials - National Human Trafficking Hotline
  

This year we will acknowledge the various diverse cultures that are celebrated throughout the year. We understand that our calendar may not be all-inclusive, so if you are aware of any cultural holidays or months of observance that we should know about, feel free to reach out and let us know.

African American History Month (February)
National African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history.

Women's History Month (March)
Women’s History Month honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States.

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)
Irish-American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions which Irish-Americans have made to the United States.

Jewish American Heritage Month (May)
Jewish American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions Jewish Americans have made to America since they first arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654.

Asian Pacific Heritage Month (May)

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions Asian/Pacific Americans have made to American history, society and culture.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month (June)

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month commemorates the events of June 1969 and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQ Americans.

National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American society and culture and honors five of our Central American neighbors who celebrate their Independence days in September.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October)
National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the accomplishments in the workplace of persons with disabilities and reaffirms the commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunities to all citizens.

American Indian Heritage Month (November)
National American Indian Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the United States.

By Month

https://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/index.php

We'd love to give a big shout-out to all the holidays happening in January! If you celebrate any of these, we hope that you have an amazing day for yourself and your families!

• Gantan-sai - Sunday, January 1st
  
• Feast of the Holy Family - Sunday, January 1st
• Kwanzaa Ends - Sunday, January 1st
• Solemnity of Mary - Sunday, January 1st
• Oshogatsu - Saturday, January 1st
• Epiphany - Friday, January 6th
• Feast of the Nativity (Christmas) - Saturday, January 7th
• Guru Gobind Singh Birthday - Thursday, January 5th
• Mahayana New Year - Saturday, January 7th
• The Baptism of Jesus - Sunday, January 8th
• Maghi - Lohri - Friday, January 13th
• Makarsankranti/Pongal - Sunday, January 15th
• Sulṭán - Thursday, January 19th
• Chinese New Year - Sunday, January 22nd
• Vasant Panchami - Thursday, January 26th
• Guru Har Rai Birthday - Monday, January 31st

Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Eric Howard, Director of Equity & Employee Relations

Email: howard.eric@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/domain/64
Location: 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone: (319) 688-1000