1. Department Updates
2. Bullying Prevention
3. Indigenous People's Day
   
4. Filipino American History Month
5. German American Day
6. Italian American Heritage Month
7. National Disability Employment Awareness Month
8. Polish American Heritage Month
9. Upcoming Events
10. Religious Holidays

WELCOME to FALL

The Restorative Justice Team has been busy offering INTRO to Restorative Practices learning to some Administrators and the Leadership Team of their prospective building.

Restorative Justice is more than circling people together in times of harm or needed repair. Understanding that restorative circles are a practice under the umbrella of Restorative Practices. A safe and welcoming community environment begins with preventative measures in building and maintaining relationships.

In this two-day Introduction to Restorative Practices (RP), which has evolved from Restorative Justice (RJ), we examined the theory behind these practices, and why and when they are effective. ALL practices in the building, HRS, PBIS, MTSS, and other practices could be approached with a restorative lens. Those who attended this workshop will be able to begin utilizing these effective practices, increasing the access to and availability of RP in your unique setting.

We would like to thank HOOVER, CORALVILLE CENTRAL, GRANT, and NCJH for being such courageous learners and doers of ALL THINGS Restorative. Also to the GARNER certified staff who too is participating in the two-day RP learning experience.

As a gift to each of you, the RJ would like to offer this wonderful article linked below:

This month on October 10th the Equity Department was able to take a bus of students to the Quad Cities for a historic marching band event! This event marked the FIRST time in the city of Davenport's history that a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) marching band performed for the public. The Lincoln University of Missouri’s Marching Musical Storm, directed by Eugene Diggs ll, were featured guests at the Annual Davenport Schools Band Spectacular.

Not only is this an exciting opportunity for students interested in music and band, but it is also a chance for students to learn more about HBCUs and why they are a source of pride for the African American Community.

Lincoln University

Lincoln University of Missouri was founded Lincoln Institute in 1866 by Civil War veterans of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantry, and opened with only two students enrolled and curriculum and classes expanded from there. In 1954 Lincoln, now established as a historically Black university, opened its doors to all students. Even today Lincoln serves a diverse population of students.

To learn more, click here.

The Importance of HBCU’s

HBCUs provide a unique opportunity for students in attendance. The majority of HBCU students are first-generation, low income students, and most institutions offer lower tuition rates, inclusive communities, and a higher percentage of STEM graduates. HBCUs also help to close the racial wealth gap in the United States, and can even improve mental health for students.

There are currently 107 HBCU’s in the United States and they have undoubtedly played a crucial role in the development of black professionals. HBCU’s account for only 3% of the nation’s educational institutions but account for:

• 25% of African American college graduates
• 50% of African American public school teachers
• 50% of all African American lawyers
• 80% of all African American judges
• 38% of all African American healthcare professionals
• 41% of all degrees in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, math) earned by African Americans

Last month Hills Elementary and Longfellow Elementary teamed up to host an event for Hispanic Heritage Month. The celebration had food, art, music, traditional dances, games, and lots of community building! This was a wonderful opportunity for our families to sit in space with one another and celebrate the diversity within the Latino/Hispanic community.

Plus, every family that attended was able to receive a free book to take home!

We'd like to give a big shout out to Hills and Longfellow for this event, and the amazing work they are doing in our district.

We'd like to share a resource to help educators think about how they are creating inclusive classroom spaces.

“Windows and Mirrors” is a term coined by Emily Style for the National SEED Project. Creating windows and mirrors in your classroom and curriculum is a way to celebrate the diversity of your students and build community in your classroom. Under Iowa Code 256.11, school districts are required to use a multicultural, gender-fair approach, and global perspectives must be incorporated into all levels of education.

Windows

• A window is a resource that offers you a view into someone else’s experience.

Mirrors

• A mirror is a resource that enables you to reflect on your own life and experiences. A mirror is a resource that enables you to reflect on your own life and experiences.

Examples

• Using books with diverse authors and about diverse cultures.
• Visual displays that reflect the diversity of the school community.
• Worksheets and other learning where students can see themselves and others.
• Student images are incorporated throughout the classroom or building.

There are A LOT of holidays in a year! Because of how many holidays there are, we are not always able to go in-depth into every occasion. That's why we need to hear all of your voices.

Lots of holidays means lots of traditions and experiences! We want you to share some of your own traditions and memories from holidays coming up in November! To share your traditions please send a brief write-up about your choice of holiday you celebrate in November to Equity Specialist, Andrea Jayne (jayne.andrea@iowacityschools.org) to be included in our next issue!

November Holidays consist of but are not limited to:

• All Saints' Day (Día de Muertos) - Wednesday, November 1st
• Karwa Chauth - Wednesday, November 1st
  
• All Souls' Day - Thursday, November 2nd
• Qudrat (Power) - Saturday, November 4th
  
• Dhan Teras - Friday, November 10th
  
• Diwali - Sunday, November 12th
• Bandi Chor Divas - Sunday, November 12th
  
• Bhai Dooj - Tuesday, November 14th
• Pitru Paksha ends - Tuesday, November 14th
• Chhath Puja - Sunday, November 19th
• Qawl (Speech) - Thursday, November 23rd
  
• Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bhadur Sahib - Friday, November 24th
  
• Christ the King - Sunday, Novemeber 26th
  
• Day of the Covenant - Sunday, November 26th
  
• Kartik Poornima - Monday, Novemeber 27th
  
• Guru Nanak Birthday - Monday, November 27th
  
• Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá - Tuesday, November 28th
  
• St. Andrew's Day - Thursday, November 30th

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. During this month the Iowa City Community School District would like to raise awareness, and give some resources to teachers, families, and most especially our students to prevent bullying.

National Bullying Prevention Month was founded by The PACER Center back in 2006, and the movement has grown every year. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 2019 report put out by U.S Department of Education, about 20% of students ages 12-18 reported being bullied. Students who are bullied at school have increased risk of depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and are more likely to drop out of school.

In the same National Report, research showed that school-based bullying prevention programs could decrease bullying by up to 20%. That is why it is so important to have this month long observance to raise awareness about different strategies for bullying prevention.

What do we mean when we talk about bullying?

Types of Bullying – Taken from www.stopbullying.gov

Verbal - speaking or writing mean things.

• Teasing
• Name-calling
• Inappropriate sexual comments
• Taunting
• Threatening to cause harm

Social bullying (Relational bullying) - hurting someone’s reputation or relationships

• Leaving someone out on purpose
• Telling other children not to be friends with someone
• Spreading rumors about someone
• Embarrassing someone in public

Physical bullying - hurting a person’s body or possessions

• Hitting/kicking/pinching
• Spitting
• Tripping/pushing
• Taking or breaking someone’s things
• Making mean or rude hand gestures

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.

What Is Bullying?

According to Iowa Safe Schools and the Department of Education:

Bullying/harassment is "Any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student based on the individual's actual or perceived age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party preference, political belief, socio-economic status, or familial status, and which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:

1. Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the person or their property
2. Has a substantial detrimental effect on the student's physical or mental health
3. Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's academic performance
4. Has the effect of substantially interfering with the student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school"

Conflict is not bullying.

Conflict is "A disagreement or antagonism between two or more people. All parties involved have some responsibility in the encounter. It is not bullying when two or more kids with no perceived power imbalance fight, have an argument or disagree."

Want to Reach Out to Someone Directly?

Students: Contact Charita Martin, Equity Coordinator. Email Charita or call (319) 688-1000.

Staff: Contact Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations. Email Eric or call (319) 688-1000.

If you are unsure how to proceed or would like to discuss your options, you may contact Janet Abejo-Parker, Ombuds, at ombuds@iowacityschools.org or (319) 688-1312.

https://www.iowacityschools.org/SaySomething

The second Monday of October marks Indigenous Peoples' Day. This holiday celebrates and honors Native American peoples and their histories and cultures. Indigenous Peoples' Day was officially adopted by Iowa City in 2017, as well as Johnson County. Then later in 2018, the entire State of Iowa adopted this holiday, and a proclamation was signed by the governor.

It wasn't until October 8th, 2021 that President Joe Biden formally recognized the holiday, becoming the first U.S. President to do so.

Indigenous Peoples' Day got its beginnings in 1990 when the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas (sponsored by the United Nations) began to discuss replacing Columbus Day in the U.S.

We want to celebrate and wrap around all Indigenous Peoples' in our community, and lift up their stories and histories. To learn more about Indigenous Peoples Day and it's relation to Columbus day, click here.

Resources to consider for your classrooms:

• 5 Young Native Americans On What Indigenous Peoples' Day Means To Them | NYT
• Teaching About the Taínos, Columbus, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day in a Middle School English Language Learners Classroom | Teaching For Change
  
• Teaching About Indigenous Peoples' Day - Educators 4 Social Change

• Native Knowledge 360° | Smithsonian

This year for Indigenous Peoples' Day we interviewed City High senior and Equity Advisory Committee member Reyna Roach! Reyna has been a passionate advocate for the Indigenous Community and the need for better supports in our schools. We want to thank Reyna for meeting with us and sharing about their experience!

1) 3 things about Reyna!

• They are a Citizen of the Shawnee Tribe
  
• They have been in Iowa City for the last 6 years
• They play Alto Sax and Oboe in band

2) Observing Indigenous Peoples' Day on October 9th

• [This year] was a typical day for Reyna, doing a lot of college things for Dartmouth College, and they were able to apply there due in part to being Native and the resources available for prospective Native and Indigenous students.
• On Indigenous Peoples Day the University of Iowa is also holds a Decolonization Rally that the Native American Student Association (NASA) puts on.
• At City High Mr. Bacon always plays a song at the beginning of announcements, and on Indigenous Peoples' Day he plays a song by an Indigenous Artist. City High also has a Multi-Ethnic Student Union and they have created a presentation to help others learn more that will be made available to the entire school.

3) How do you observe National Native American Heritage Month which starts November 1st?

• Native American Heritage Month is really important to Reyna. It is a time when people are paying attention to Native American issue. The University of Iowa is a great place to look for resources, and they have also created a Land Acknowledgement and hold events for Indigenous Peoples' day and Native American Heritage Month.
• The Great Plains Action Society also does a great job around 'Truthsgiving' and has an event in late November where people can come together and learn about how Native people in the community feel about Truthsgiving

4) Is it okay to say Native?

• Reyna is personally alright with the term, but recommends to always double check with the individual that you're speaking with. Not everyone within a diverse group will feel the same way.

5) What information do you believe is the most important for non-Indigenous People to know who want to acknowledge and understand how to show up with our indigenous community?

• Something that is important to me for non-Indigenous people to know is that our stories have been silenced and misinterpreted for generations. When you enter indigenous spaces know that the history you were given, may not be accurate. Be willing to listen. Work hard not to talk over or take over or misinterpret our words. Listen before you speak. You may not know the full story. Being careful is necessary.

• One hope I have is that students throughout the schools will be able to gain a holistic understanding of Indigenous People and our history to the United States. Oftentimes, school districts work hard to properly represent indigenous people, but we need to start early in kindergarten by not getting into the habits of perpetuating stereotypical representations of native people. For example, the story of Thanksgiving, Pilgrims and Wampanoag. I want them to advance it into a historically accurate lens. In addition, acknowledge that we exist in the modern day and are not just people of the past.

The Filipino American National Historical Society helped to champion the creation of this month-long observance, and October was chosen specifically, because it marks the first recorded date of Filipinos arriving in the U.S at the present-day Morro Bay, California way back in 1587! Filipino Americans make up approximately 1.5% (~4 million) of the U.S population.

So this month we encourage everyone to learn more about Filipino history, and honor Filipino-Americans in our ICCSD Community!

For Teachers:

Want to incorporate Filipino American History into your curriculum this October? Here are some classroom resources to help you learn about Filipino history and the contributions that Filipino Americans have made to our society.

• Carlos Villa Teacher Packet with resources and lesson plans
  
• Leo Valledor Teacher Packet with resources and lesson plans
  
• Open-Ended Social Studies - Some Ideas for Teaching about the Philippines

• Filipino-American Society of Iowa | Iowa Asian Alliance
• Filipino American National Historical Society Museum | FANHS
• 10 Ways to Celebrate Filipino American History Month | Arts & Culture

There are approximately 50 million Americans that have German ancestry. That's around 17% of the total population!

History of German American Day:

This day commemorates the founding of Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1683. The day was originally celebrated in the 19th century, but celebrations stopped after World War I when there was a lot of anti-German sentiment.

Then, in 1983, President Ronald Reagan made a proclamation naming October 6th German American Day to celebrate the 300th anniversary of German American immigration. Later in 1987 through a joint resolution, it was made an official day of observance by congress.

German Americans have had a huge impact on society, contributing greatly to car manufacturing, building churches, and the arts.

In Iowa:

If you want to experience more German Culture while staying in the Iowa City area, you can travel down the road to the Amana Colonies. These are a group of seven villages built by German Pietists. You can check out local cafes, restaurants, butchers, art shops and more!

Learn more about German American Heritage:

• National German-American Society
• German Culture
• The Heinz History Center - Celebrating National German American Day

October is Italian American Heritage Month! This month we want to show our support to all of our Italian American ICCSD family and community!

Italian American Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1989 when President George H.W. Bush made an official proclamation.

Almost 5.5 Million Italians came to the U.S. between 1820 and 2004, and large Italian American communities all over the United States exist to this day. According to the U.S. Census, there are over 15 million Americans of Italian descent in the U.S. and in Iowa, about 2.1% of the population claims Italian descent!

Italian-Americans have had a unique cultural journey in the United States. They have faced discrimination and isolation, and have made a point to preserve their history and share their culture with the country. Even now, there are harmful stereotypes for Italian Americans such as ties to organized crime and violence.

Italian-American Heritage Month can help to educate about Italian-American culture and share the beautiful traditions and histories of this group of people.

Resources for your classrooms:

• 8 Great Books for Kids for National Italian American Heritage Month
• Italian Heritage Month - Heinz History Center
• 5 Ways to Research Your Italian Heritage Without Leaving Home - New York Public Library
• Celebrating Italian-American Heritage Month - New York Public Library

The effort to educate the public about issues related to disability and employment started back in 1945 when Public Law 176 was enacted. This law ensured a week-long observance for Disability Employment, and 25 years later, after a few changes to the language, the week was expanded to an entire month.

This law came right as thousands of wounded American soldiers returned home from World War II and re-entered the workforce. The scope of the law broadened in the last few decades to include people with all types of disabilities. However, even with a month-long observance dedicated to this population, there are still barriers people with disabilities face every day in the workforce. For instance, among working-age people who are blind, almost 70% are not currently employed.

What can we do?

There are many ways organizations and employers can create a more accessible environment for their employees. eChalk gives 6 easy ways for teachers and educators to make their websites/pages more accessible.

Iowa City School District has made important steps to ensure that all of our employees get the accommodations they need. We strive to follow ADA and WCAG guidelines on web accessibility. You may have noticed in the past few years we have transitioned exclusively to Smore for our newsletters because of their accessibility features.

Web accessibility is the inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from doing what they need to do online. Accessibility for our employees, students, and families is a major priority for the district, and we will continue to improve every year.

If you are in need of Employee Accommodations within the Iowa City Community School District, click here.

If you'd like to know more or have questions about how to make your website accessible, take a look at our Webmaster page.

Resources:

• National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2022 - Office of Disability Employment Policy

• Employment Awareness Month - What can YOU do? The Campaign for Disability Employment
• Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month - National Industries for the Blind
  

October is Polish American Heritage Month where we celebrate all those in our ICCSD community with Polish heritage!

October commemorates the first Polish colonizers in the U.S. and also the deaths of General Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko (military leaders who fought in the American Revolution). Today there are about 8.2 million Americans that self-identify as Polish. In Iowa, we have over 40,000 people who identify as Polish or claim Polish ancestry.

From The American Presidency Project, Proclamation 5548—Polish American Heritage Month, 1986:

“In October, we celebrate Polish American Heritage Month in the United States. Our Nation owes an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the millions of freedom-loving Poles who have come to our shores to build a new land. Polish Americans can be justly proud of the vital contributions people of Polish descent have made to our Nation in the arts, the sciences, religion, scholarship, and every area of endeavor."

There are many things you can do this month to celebrate Polish Heritage. Check out some of our resources below:

• Polish American Heritage Month Press Information Packet 2022 - Polish American Center
  
• Recommended Reading List - Polish American Heritage and Community Foundation
• Museum Virtual Tour - The Polish Museum of America
• Polish American Historical Society

• Mehregan - Monday, October 2nd
  
• St. Francis Day - Wednesday, October 4th
  
• Hoshana Rabbah - Friday, October 6th
• Sukkot Ends - Friday, October 6th
  
• Shmini Atzeret - Saturday, October 7th
  
• Simchat Torah - Saturday, October 7th
  
• Ghambar Ayathrem - Thursday, October 12th
  
• Mahalaya Amavasya - Friday, October 13th
  
• Navaratri begins - Sunday, October 15th
• ‘Ilm (Knowledge), Monday, October 16th
  
• The Birth of the Báb - Monday, October 16th
  
• The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh - Monday, October 16th
  
• Birth of the Guru Granth -Friday, October 20th
  
• Navaratri ends/Maha Navami - Monday, October 23rd
  
• Dusshera - Tuesday, October 24th
  
• Sharad Purnima - Saturday, October 28th
  
• All Hallows Eve - Tuesday, October 31st
• Samhain - Tuesday, October 31st
  
• Reformation Day - Tuesday, October 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