DEI Communications 2023-2024
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! As you start a new year with Goleta Union, we hope you will help us in our efforts to continue to grow in our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. While there is much work to be done in improving DEI support, the positive strides made by GUSD educators and leaders in the last few years to strengthen our efforts to create a greater sense of belonging and acknowledgement of diverse cultures and heritages can be seen across our campuses and as part of our daily work.
Areas of focus for 2023-2024:
● DEI Map
● Site School Plans for Student Achievement (SPSA)
● DEI Communications
● Parent Volunteers
September Heritage Month Acknowledgement: Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15): September 15th was chosen as the kickoff date since it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), followed by Mexico on September 16th, Chile on the 18th, and Belize on the 21st. Please click on the monthly post for additional information and activities to celebrate the Hispanic culture throughout the year.
Other September Acknowledgements and Holidays:
- Labor Day (9/4)
- Yom Kippur (9/25-9/26)
- Rosh Hashanah (9/15-17)
- International Day of Peace - Activities (9/21)
World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10 and is an international day for global awareness of mental health education and advocacy. The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is 'Mental health is a universal human right'. World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone's mental health. This day has been acknowledged since 1992 when it was first celebrated at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.
Other October Acknowledgements and Holidays:
- Indigenous People’s Day - Columbus Day (10/9)
- World Mental Health Day (10/10)
- German American Heritage Month
- Filipino American Heritage Month
- Italian American Heritage Month
In most cultures, November offers families a time to gather to share gratitude, celebrate loved ones who have passed, and a desire to honor gods of good fortune. For some, it can also lead to discussions about current world events. During this month, we encourage you to take care of yourself and your family. This is a month to reflect on how we as a nation have written our narrative and how we can continue to recognize the diverse stories of our country.
Other November Acknowledgements and Holidays:
- Native American Heritage Month All Saint’s Day (11/1)
- Dia De Los Muertos (11/1-11/2)
- Veteran’s Day (11/11)
- Diwali (11/12)
- Transgender Awareness Week (11/13-19)
- International Day for Tolerance (11/16): The UN holiday was founded to encourage respect among various people regardless of culture, language, religion, or ethnicity.
- Transgender Day of Remembrance (11/20)
- Thanksgiving (11/23)
- Native American Heritage Day (11/24)
Cultures around the world celebrate mid-winter holidays in a variety of ways. Please take a few minutes to reflect upon the way you and your family choose to celebrate family traditions during this time of year and appreciate how other families may celebrate in ways that are both the same or different from you.
Other December Acknowledgements and Holidays:
- International Day of People with Disabilities (12/3) which is designed to raise awareness in regards to persons with disabilities in order to improve their lives and provide them with equal opportunity.
- Hanukkah (12/7-15)
- International Human Rights Day (12/10), established by the United Nations in 1948 to commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- St. Lucia Day (12/13)
- Las Posadas (12/16-24)
- Yule Winter (12/21)
- Christmas (12/25)
- Kwanzaa (12/26 - 1/1)
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s holiday has been recognized since 1983 for Dr. King’s inspirational leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement, which eliminated racial segregation with the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. More specifically, Dr. King is acknowledged for his passion and advocacy for non-violent activism and servitude, leaving a legacy that has motivated activists across the world to battle social injustice to this day. Please take a few minutes to review the monthly post and see what other information may be new to you as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this Monday, January 15th.
Brandon Islanders are proud of our DEI activities and work to support student learning! / Los isleños de Brandon están orgullosos de nuestras actividades de DEI y de nuestro trabajo para apoyar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes.
Other January Acknowledgements and Holidays:
- New Years (1/1)
- 3 Wise Kings Holiday or Epiphany(1/6)
- Martin Luther King Holiday (1/15)
February, 2024/ School Feature
At El Camino, we celebrate the diversity of our staff, students and their families. Our student population is diverse, and we provide cultural education that emphasizes visibility, multiculturalism and representation. We strive for equity in the daily instructional choices we make and our approach to building an equitable school culture and community while striving to implement equitable practices for family engagement and academic success. En El Camino, celebramos la diversidad de nuestro personal, estudiantes y sus familias. Nuestra población estudiantil es diversa y proporcionamos una educación cultural que enfatiza la visibilidad, el multiculturalismo y la representación. En El Camino, nos esforzamos por lograr la equidad en las decisiones educativas que tomamos a diario y en nuestro enfoque para crear una cultura y una comunidad escolar equitativas. Nos esforzamos por implementar prácticas equitativas para la participación familiar y el éxito académico.
Other February Acknowledgements and Holidays:
- Groundhog Day (2/2)
- Lunar New Year (2/10)
- Ash Wednesday (2/14)
- Valentines Day (2/14)
- Presidents Day (2/19)
March marks another recognition month and an opportunity to celebrate and educate ourselves about the history and contributions creating the world we currently live in. A reminder that although heritage months may be recognized here as a particular month, we want to make a point to appreciate, acknowledge and celebrate these contributions year round. Women’s History Month is celebrated from March 1 - March 31, 2024, and has been celebrated as a month since 1987.
Other March Acknowledgements and Holidays:
Women’s International Day (3/8) A globally-recognized day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (3/1-3/31)
Irish American Heritage Month (3/1 - 3/31)
Greek American Heritage Month (3/1-3/31)
Ramadan (3/10-4/9) Muslims across the world observe this ninth month of the Islamic calendar and celebrate through fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
St. Patrick’s Day (3/17)
Arab American Heritage Month is celebrated from April 1 - April 30, 2024, with this year’s theme “Celebrating Arab American Resilience and Diversity.” Arab American Heritage Month has been celebrated since proclaimed by President Biden in April 2021. The Arab World traditionally is considered to include 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa with 85% of Arab Americans being U.S. citizens. 75% of Arab Americans live primarily in 12 states: California, Michigan and New York have the largest populations; however, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Jersey have the largest percentage per state population. The largest numbers of Arab Americans trace family ties to countries such as, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Iraq.
Other April Acknowledgements and Holidays:
Celebrate Diversity Month, started in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will get a deeper understanding of each other.
World Autism Awareness Month (4/1 - 4/30) Autism-friendly events and educational activities take place all month to increase understanding and acceptance and foster worldwide support.
World Autism Awareness Day (4/2) Encourages Member States of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness about people within the Autism Spectrum, and celebrate and recognize people living with Autism.
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