Dear Sewanee Elementary Students and Families,
Happy February!
This month, we celebrate love, kindness, and the rich history of Black Americans, which is an important reminder that black history and culture are a part of our history. This is a great time for us to focus on diversity and inclusion and the importance of accepting and celebrating differences and sharing similarities. Let’s spread joy, learn from one another, and make a difference in our community!
Valentine’s Day isn’t just about candy and cards; it’s a great time to show appreciation for friends, family, and teachers! Here are some simple ways to spread love and kindness:
~Write a kind note to a classmate or teacher
~Help a friend who’s feeling down
~Give a compliment – words have power
February is a time to learn about and honor the achievements of Black Americans. During our lesson this month, we will discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion with family and friends.
Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 11-17. Random Acts of Kindness Day is observed on February 17th each year. Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Day is all about spreading love and positivity. Kindness makes the world a better place! As we continue to focus on being kind throughout the year, challenge yourself to complete at least one act of kindness each day this week. Some ideas for our students are:
~Hold the door open for someone
~Say “thank you” to a school helper (custodian, cafeteria worker, bus driver)
~Invite someone new to play at recess
~Write a gratitude note to a family member
Our lesson this month is about diversity and inclusion. Students will learn the importance of accepting and celebrating differences in people. We will be discussing the following:
~What makes each of us unique?
~How would the world be if everyone were the same?
~Why is it important to include others, even if they are different from us?
We will define diversity and inclusion. Students will participate in an activity: “We Are All Different, Yet the Same”. We will read aloud a book(s) and complete a corresponding activity. We will create a diversity paper chain. Students will decorate a paper strip with something unique about themselves (culture, family traditions, favorite foods, etc.) We will link them together to show how our differences create a strong connected community.
Last month, we focused on goal setting and making every day count. Our lesson focused on setting meaningful goals and identifying the steps to achieve them. Students learned how to set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-oriented) long-term and short-term goals.
I'm looking forward to another exciting month. Our differences make us special, but kindness and respect bring us together. Let's celebrate what makes us unique while including and uplifting others.
Warm regards,
Kim Hasty, M.S.
SES Student Advocate
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Students will hear the story Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival and create a set of wings that is unique to them. They will also discuss how the book character, Norman, feels when he wears the coat to cover his wings, versus how he feels when he takes off his coat and reveals his wings.
3rd - 5th Grade
We will read two books by Susan Verde, I AM LOVE and I AM HUMAN. Students will create a rainbow that is unique to them based on a color key. They will discuss what makes them unique and different from other Sewanee Elementary students and how we can celebrate our differences.
