TSD Inclusive
December 2024 (Community)
The month of December is a time of togetherness, reflection, and joy, as our community celebrates the many holidays, observances, 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 holidays, observances, and traditions in meaningful ways. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to foster inclusivity and deepen your understanding. Your support helps to strengthen the sense of belonging that defines our school communities.
I've been meaning to ask...Where Do We Go From Here?
We have hosted community book reads where we gathered for great dialogue and deeper understanding. Join Us January 16 to continue the conversation we started with the Anxious Generation and BUILD on this through engaging discussions surrounding many topics in this family and community engagement series. Interested? Click the link below...
"Leading for Equity"
The Student Equity Council (SEC) has been actively expanding its presence across OneTroy high schools by hosting monthly meetings - in each building - aimed at growing membership, raising awareness, and advancing the council’s goals and purpose. This year, the SEC welcomed many new, energetic student leaders who share a vision of equity and inclusion and are committed to making a positive impact across the district for themselves and their peers. The final SEC meeting before the break will be held at Troy College and Career High School.
Stay connected by following SEC on Instagram and get ready for more in 2025!
The theme for this year is "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future."
Key Goals and Call to Action
- Promoting the leadership of persons with disabilities in all areas of life.
- Ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society.
- Increasing the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.
- Raising awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities.
- Celebrating the achievements of persons with disabilities.
Learn more HERE
- Use #DisabilityDay and #IDPD as the main hashtags
- Other hashtags: #EveryoneIncluded, #GlobalGoals and #CRPD
Human Rights Day is a special day that recognizes and celebrates the fundamental human rights that every person is entitled to. It’s observed every year on December 10th and is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made in protecting human rights around the world. It is also a day of recommitment; ensuring that all people are treated with dignity and respect.
2024 Theme: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted in 1948 by the United National General Assembly, is "a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." ~United Nations
International Human Solidarity Day is a global holiday that celebrates the idea of humanity and cooperation. It was created by the United Nations in 2007 and is celebrated every year on December 20th. The goal of this holiday is to promote peace, understanding, and cooperation amongst all people. This day is also used to raise awareness about global issues such as poverty, hunger, and disease.
International Human Solidarity Day is:
- a day to celebrate our unity in diversity;
- a day to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements;
- a day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity;
- a day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals including poverty eradication;
- a day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication.
For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it. – Amanda Gorman
Las Posadas is a December holiday celebrated in Mexico and many other Latin American countries. It commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It is celebrated for eight days and nights, usually beginning on the 25th of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah or Chanukkah) is a Jewish holiday that lasts for eight nights and usually occurs in December. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.
Christmas is a holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by Christians all around the world and is considered one of the most important holidays of the year. Christmas honors the day that Jesus Christ was born to Joseph and Mary in the city of Bethlehem.
Expressions of "Merry Christmas" in different languages:
Arabic: Milad Majid
Chinese (Cantonese): Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese (Mandarin): Sheng Dan Kuai Le
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Danish: Glædelig Jul
French: Joyeux Noel
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Portuguese: Feliz Natal
Swedish: God Jul
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Kwanzaa is a winter holiday that celebrates African-American heritage. It was founded in 1966 by Maulana Karenga. The name Kwanzaa comes from the words matunda ya kwanza, which means “first fruit” in Swahili, referring to the first crops of the harvest. In Africa, the first fruit festivals are celebrated in accordance with the summer solstice (winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere). Some might consider Kwanzaa as an alternative to Christmas. However, Kwanzaa was not created with the purpose to give black people their own religious holiday as an alternative to Christmas. Many African-American families celebrate Kwanzaa in addition to Christmas. Maulana Karenga defined the seven principles of Kwanzaa, calling them “Nguzo Saba” (the seven principles of African heritage). Together, the seven principles make up Kawaida (meaning tradition). Each of the seven days during Kwanzaa symbolically represents one of the seven principles on which the holiday builds.
These principles are:
Umoja (Unity)
Kujichagulia (Self-determination)
Ujima (Collective work and responsibility)
Ujamaa (Cooperative economics)
Nia (Purpose)
Kuumba (Creativity)
Imani (Faith)
Kwanzaa is also distinguished by seven symbols including:
Makka (mat), a traditional straw or woven textile. It represents the base or the foundation on which the other symbols are placed
Kinara (candle holder) holds seven candles
Mishumaa Saba (the seven candles)
Mazao (crops)
Mahindi (corn)
Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup)
Zawadi (gifts)
The winter solstice is a holiday that celebrates the shortest day of the year. It is observed on December 21st in most countries, but some celebrate it on other dates. The word “solstice” means “sun stands still,” and this name reflects the that on the winter solstice, the sun appears to stand still in the sky. After the winter solstice, the days begin to get longer again.
Yule is a winter holiday that celebrates the rebirth of the sun. It is celebrated by many different people around the world, including Pagans, Wiccans, and Druids. Yule usually takes place in late December or early January and is often marked by special celebrations, gift-giving, and family gatherings.
New Year’s Eve, people around the globe celebrate the coming of the New Year on this last day in the gregorian calendar.
Omisoka is the last of the December global holidays as the Japanese celebrate it on December 31st. It is a day to celebrate the coming of the New Year, and people typically exchange gifts, eat special foods, and participate in traditional ceremonies.
(some) New Year's Traditions From Around the World
- United States: Watching the ball drop
- Brazil: Heading to the beach
- Spain: Eating 12 grapes
- India: Building a sculpture of an old man and burning it down
- Japan: Eating soba noodles
- France: Feasting with Champagne
- Haiti: Sharing soup joumou
- Denmark: Throwing old plates