Hello Wilson Wildcats,

As we approach Spring Break, I encourage everyone to take some time to regroup and enjoy quality time with family and loved ones. It is a well-deserved break before we dive into assessment season, which will be upon us once we return from the break and continue through the month of April.

In honor of Women's History Month, I'd like to shine a spotlight on an extraordinary woman whose contributions have left a lasting impact: Shirley Chisholm.

Shirley Chisholm made history in 1972 as the first African American from a major political party to run for president and the first Democratic woman of any race to do so. However, her accomplishments extend far beyond her groundbreaking presidential bid.

Born Shirley Anita St. Hill in Brooklyn, New York, on November 30, 1924, Chisholm demonstrated exceptional academic and activist abilities from a young age. Despite facing economic challenges and discrimination, she excelled academically and advocated for important causes throughout her education.

After graduating from Brooklyn College and earning her master's degree from Columbia University, Chisholm dedicated herself to improving the lives of others. She campaigned for Brooklyn's first Black judge and later served in the New York State Assembly, where she championed legislation benefiting working-class New Yorkers and underprivileged students.

In 1968, Chisholm made history again by becoming the first African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. During her tenure, she fought tirelessly for racial and gender equity, serving on various committees, and advocating for important issues.

Chisholm's boldness and vision culminated in her historic presidential bid in 1972, where she brought issues of racial and gender equality to the national stage. Her campaign motto, "unbought and unbossed," reflected her commitment to integrity and independence.

As we commemorate Women's History Month with the theme "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion," let us honor Shirley Chisholm's legacy and continue her work by striving for a more equitable and inclusive society.

Enjoy your well-deserved break, and let's return refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

Warm regards,

Ernest Rose, Superintendent

Women's History Month is a vital celebration that highlights and recognizes the significant contributions of women throughout history. This dedicated month serves as a platform to honor the achievements, struggles, and progress made by women in various fields, including politics, science, literature, and social activism. Women's History Month encourages the celebration of diversity and the acknowledgment of women's accomplishments, inspiring the next generation of girls and women to pursue their dreams and aspirations without limitations.

Wilson Primary School is taking proactive measures to foster the next generation of girls by implementing programs and initiatives that promote gender equality and empower female students. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) and P.E. programs are offered designed to encourage girls to explore and pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated fields. Beyond academics, Wilson Primary School has mentorship/partnership programs and activities that provide girls with opportunities to connect with successful female professionals, fostering a sense of community and inspiration. By implementing these initiatives, Wilson Primary School aims to instill confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of empowerment in the next generation of girls, preparing them to excel in all aspects of life.

Have a great month!

Mrs. Wojcicki

Hello Wildcat Families

Well, Spring is just around the corner and there are so many events happenings in March; Track & Softball season begins, daylight savings time begins for 3/10 (for other parts of the country), St. Patrick’s Day is 3/17, NCAA March Madness begins 3/17, and the first day spring is on the 3/19, these are just a few events that are coming as we usher in the last quarter of school year 2023-24.

Our 8th grade scholars were able to participate in ASU’s Black and Brown College Bound Event and our AVID scholars attended Sky Harbor’s STEM Event. We are planning additional curriculum extension events for our scholars to enjoy after the AASA Assessment in April.

March is the time of the school year when scholars often begin to display mastery of new skills. Yet isn’t it ironic that the pencil with an attached eraser was first patented in March 1858? And, at a time of the year when many scholars are celebrating the growth reflected in their third report card, others view the arrival of grades with apprehension and anxiety.

Your child’s report card will be arriving home later this month. Most likely, March grades will highlight your child’s growth, both academically and socially. The report will give you reason to voice pride in your son’s or daughter’s efforts and work.

However, March grades also serve as a reminder that there is still work to be done, challenges to tackle, and goals to be set—for every student. While receiving a teacher’s honest assessment of a child’s efforts may cause one to be disappointed, bewildered, or assign blame, such emotions make it difficult to create and support “next steps.” March, contrary to the ancient Romans, is not a time to start a battle. It is a time to calmly articulate concerns, seek root causes, put rational heads together, and set a course of action that lets a student know that it is never too late to grow and succeed.

Here are a few kind suggestions that will make March reporting a productive time of the year:

• Find genuine ways to celebrate your child’s efforts. Genuine praise or listening to your son or daughter delight in explaining his or her successes works better than extrinsic rewards—it’s authentic and cheaper!
• Choose one or two key areas for improvement and calmly set a course of action. Goals should be realistic and achievable. Write them down and refer to them periodically with your child.
• Consult with your child and his or her teacher when seeking report card clarity. If necessary, arrange a teacher/parent/student meeting. Be sure to support each other. This is a team effort.
• Remember, grades belong to scholars, not parents. They are a means by which we can teach personal responsibility, natural consequences, and the value of hard work, good study skills and affirmative social skills.
• Resist comparing a child’s grades with those of siblings or neighbors. Each child is unique and deserves to have grades kept confidential.

• Stay positive!

Blessings,

Dr. Demetra Baxter-Olive

Analysis by Diksha Madhok, CNN

Just a few months ago, Nita Ambani stepped away from frontline business to focus on philanthropy. Now, the wife of Asia’s richest man is back with the biggest job in the ferociously competitive world of India media.

She will be the chairperson of the $8.5 billion behemoth that will be formed through the merger of Disney’s (DIS) media interests in India and those of Reliance Industries, the business empire controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani.

The 60-year-old’s new position comes less than two years after her husband set a succession plan in motion for the $236 billion conglomerate, which spans retail, technology and renewable energy. He plans to hand the empire to their three children.

Nita Ambani will not be steering the media giant alone. Uday Shankar, former president of Disney’s Asia Pacific unit, will be the vice chairperson of the joint venture and provide “strategic guidance,” the companies said in a statement Wednesday.

The Disney-Reliance deal is expected to be completed by late 2024 or early 2025, provided regulators and shareholders grant their approval.

Nita Ambani first stepped into the business limelight 10 years ago, becoming the first woman director on the board of Reliance Industries.

That appointment, made months after regulators urged listed Indian companies to improve gender diversity in boardrooms, was criticized by some analysts as tokenism.

She resigned from the board last August to “devote her energies and time” to the Reliance Foundation, which focusses on philanthropic initiatives of the group, the company said in a statement at the time.

Described as an “educationist, philanthropist, businesswoman” by the group, Ambani’s wife already has extensive experience in promoting sports and arts in the country. She is the owner of Mumbai Indians, a cricket team in the hugely popular Indian Premier League (IPL).

Sport will be key to the success of the new media venture. Disney India had been facing multiple challenges before the merger was announced. It was hit particularly hard in 2022 when it lost the digital rights to stream the IPL cricket matches to Reliance, resulting in the loss of millions of subscribers.

Trained in the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam, she founded The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai last year, which brought India its first major Broadway show, The Sound of Music, in May 2023.

Married to Mukesh Ambani since 1985, she is also a member of the International Olympic Committee and an honorary trustee of the Board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Their three children — a daughter Isha, and two sons, Anant and Akash — have also been playing bigger roles at the family business, even though Mukesh Ambani insisted in 2022, when laying out the succession plan, that he has no intention of retiring any time soon.

“I have never differentiated between Isha and Akash and Anant. Whatever my boys could do, my daughter could do too,” Nita Ambani said last year in a rare TV interview, when asked about promoting women in corporate India.

“All our young girls are breaking, shattering glass ceilings, so give them the opportunity and they will shine,” she said, adding that equal pay is a “necessity” in the corporate world.

The representation of women in Indian boardrooms has improved significantly in the last decade. Nearly 95% of the top 500 companies listed on the National Stock Exchange — had one female board member in 2022, up from 69% in 2017, according to a report by consultancy EY.

“However, less than 5% of companies have female chairpersons, so there is still room for improvement,” EY added in the report, published in 2022.

With her new job title, Nita Ambani has become the most powerful woman in Indian media and entertainment sector, which is worth over $25 billion and growing rapidly.

Reliance will own just over 63% stake in the merged entity — 16.3% directly and 46.8% through Viacom18 in which it has a controlling stake — with Disney holding the rest.

The joint venture is expected to reach a domestic audience of over 750 million viewers, the companies said in a statement.

March is Women's History Month

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

Women's History Month 2024 (womenshistorymonth.gov)

Dorothea Lange: Seeing People

During her long, prolific, and groundbreaking career, the American photographer Dorothea Lange made some of the most iconic portraits of the 20th century. Dorothea Lange: Seeing People reframes Lange’s work through the lens of portraiture, highlighting her unique ability to discover and reveal the character and resilience of those she photographed.

Featuring some 100 photographs, the exhibition addresses her innovative approaches to picturing people, emphasizing her work on social issues including economic disparity, migration, poverty, and racism.

Dorothea Lange: Seeing People (nga.gov)

In a world that often feels tumultuous and uncertain, there are few beacons of hope as bright as Malala Yousafzai. Her story is not just one of personal triumph over adversity, but also a testament to the power of education, advocacy, and community support. Born in the Swat Valley region of Pakistan, Malala's journey from a young girl with a passion for learning to a global symbol of courage and resilience has inspired millions around the world.

Malala's unwavering commitment to education began at a young age, fueled by her father's encouragement and her own innate thirst for knowledge. However, her pursuit of education faced fierce opposition when the Taliban gained control of the Swat Valley in 2007. Under their rule, girls were banned from attending school, and those who dared to defy this decree risked severe consequences.

Despite the danger, Malala remained resolute in her belief that every child, regardless of gender, deserves access to education. She continued to attend school covertly and became an outspoken advocate for girls' right to learn. Through her blog on the BBC Urdu website, she shed light on the realities faced by girls in her community and fearlessly challenged the oppressive policies of the Taliban.

Tragically, Malala's activism made her a target, and in 2012, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while riding the bus home from school. The attack sparked global outrage and brought renewed attention to the plight of girls' education in conflict zones. Miraculously, Malala survived the assassination attempt and emerged from the ordeal with an even stronger determination to fight for the rights of children everywhere.

Since then, Malala has become a leading voice for education and human rights, founding the Malala Fund alongside her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai. The organization works to ensure that every girl has access to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education. Through scholarships, advocacy initiatives, and grassroots projects, the Malala Fund has impacted the lives of girls in some of the world's most marginalized communities, providing them with the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty and oppression.

But perhaps Malala's most significant contribution lies in her ability to galvanize communities and inspire collective action. By sharing her own story of resilience and speaking out against injustice, she has sparked a global movement for change. From schoolchildren raising funds for girls' education to world leaders pledging support for the cause, Malala's influence knows no bounds.

As we reflect on Malala's journey and the profound impact she has had on the world, let us also recognize the importance of community support in driving positive change. Whether it's through volunteering, donating, or simply raising awareness, each of us has the power to make a difference in the lives of others. As Malala herself once said, "One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world." As a community, let us join together in solidarity to ensure that every child has the opportunity to fulfill their potential and create a brighter future for us all.

Events for March at the Community Center:

Remember every Friday Catalytic Healthcare is here to help with obtaining health insurance, SNAP, WIC and other community resources. Rudy is in the Community Center 9 AM-3 PM. Contact 602-802-8386 to set up an appointment or just stope by.

Child Find, a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), enables states to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities, aged birth through 21, who need early intervention or special education services. Special education services are available for children of any age (birth through 21 years). Wilson School District is responsible for locating, identifying, evaluating, and serving all children with disabilities (ages 3-21) and referring children ages 0-3 to AzEIP for evaluation and appropriate services. AzEIP is the Arizona Early Intervention Program for infants and toddlers. Wilson provides free and appropriate public education that includes special education and related services to children at public expense, under public supervision and direction without charge to parents. For all school-age students who are new to the district, the classroom teacher will complete screening activities within 45 days of enrollment. If any concerns are noted, the child will be referred for help. Parents who have concerns regarding their child’s education may contact the Special Education Department at Wilson, (602) 683-2400, ext. 8500.

Are you currently experiencing temporary living arrangements due to eviction, job loss or a traumatic event? Wilson School District offers services to families through the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act. Services such as enrollment and immunization assistance, uniforms or school supplies, community referrals and in some cases, transportation can be available. Your family may qualify due to living with another family or friend due to financial hardship or living in a shelter, transitional housing, or motel. Please contact your school office or Mariana Melendrez at 602-683-2515, ext. 6002 for more information about this program.

Excellence in education

Website: https://www.wsd7.org
Location: 3025 East Fillmore Street, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Phone: (602) 681-2200
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