For many communities around the world, there are significant numbers that represent various milestones - 13 for bar and bat mitzvahs in Jewish communities, quinceañeras for Latinx families, 16 for Sweet Sixteen or cotillions, doljanchi ceremonies for one-year-old Korean babies, and so much more. In the Philippines, 18 is an important number for Filipinas because it is the age that you "debut" into society as a woman.

A Debut (deh-boo) is a party held for young Filipinas once they reach the legal age. It's usually held as a kind of 'ball' where everyone dresses up and dances. It is traditionally held with a debut court, friends and same-age cousins dancing to choreography rehearsed weeks before the event, and lots of family and friends in attendance. There may be speeches and even performances (for my own debut, my friend and I performed original songs we composed about our admittedly cringey teenage angst). The Filipina is gifted 18 roses, dances with 18 people, and receives 18 wishes from their closest friends and family.

For my sister, who turned 18 last October, she wanted to celebrate with a "Fantasy Woodland Brunch" and invite all of our relatives and her friends. We all dressed up like we were D&D characters and dined on cupcakes that looked a little too much like dirt topped with real flowers. We all recited our well-wishes to her and at the end of the speeches, she and our father danced to Hamilton's "Dear Theodosia." All those in attendance remarked about how she had grown up to be a smart, beautiful young woman and for her, it marked the start of celebrations ongoing throughout her senior year of high school.

While the party is what stands out to most, it's not the grandeur of the celebration that makes the milestone but rather the people who share in the joy of it. The milestone is not just a celebration of the person who reaches the age, but also the community that supports and raises them.

In my wish to my sister, I wished for her to always remember that all those who attended her debut - parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, high school friends, childhood friends, and even acquaintances - were there in that room because they support and love her. We, as a collective, are her first community... and no matter where she goes to college or whatever dreams she wants to pursue, she will always have people behind her to lift her up.

It takes a village to raise a human and love to nourish them into the best humans they can be. After all, birthdays are happiest with the ones you love.

National Geographic Kids

PBS' List of Children's Books to Celebrate Women's History Month

Parents and staff can sign up to host a game at Games Night! We are also looking for staff to volunteer for the teacher vs. student game! See a GGCP member to learn more!

How do you sing happy birthday in different languages? Here are some of our students singing in Kyrgyz, Russian, Tagalog, Spanish, English, and using an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device!

Click the image to watch the video.

Many Muslims break their fast at sunset during Ramadan with a feast called Iftar. Many delicious foods are prepared during these meals, including some of the tasty desserts featured by the YouTube Channel.

What special things do you do to mark milestones in your life?

• Katherine Ellison, Glen Grove Principal
• Aurora Joaquin, Glen Grove Speech-Language Pathologist
• Katelyn Kelleher, Glen Grove Psychologist
• Hedy Helfand, Glen Grove English Langauge Learning Teacher
• Pam Leister, Glen Grove English Langauge Learning Teacher
• Lisa Funke, Glen Grove Learning Resource Center Director
• Marie Chang-Pisano, Glen Grove Reading Intervention Associate
• Sylvia Gorski Duarte, District Title III Family Resource Teacher
• Lindsey Lurie, District Multilingual Instructional Coach
• Amina Terry, Mongolian Community Coordinator

Email: GGCommunityProject@gmail.com