Apr. 2024

Our Anti-Bias Antiracism (AB/AR) theme this year is Identity Awareness and Action. This month's AB/AR shout out goes to Burbank Elementary School!!! A special shout out to their AB/AR Influencer and T4BL Member Ms. Kirsten Deetz! Burbank continues to deepen engagement with being Culturally and Linguistically Responsive with students, staff, and families and will be honored later this month at the Equity Resource Summit event Sat. April 27th at Chabot College. See more information here and plan to join this free event with resources and workshops free for our students, staff, and families! 

STUDENTS!!! Arab American Heritage Month is a crucial initiative that promotes cultural appreciation, diversity, inclusion, and social justice, ultimately enriching the fabric of American society.  Arab American Heritage Month also serves as a platform for advocacy on issues affecting Arab American communities, such as discrimination, xenophobia, and civil rights. By raising awareness and fostering solidarity, it contributes to the advancement of social justice and equality for all Americans and supports our diverse Hayward community. 

Click here to watch a video about why we even need this month. 

Click here to see some suggested books on this theme. 

(Bonus: check out these documentaries and programs that celebrate the diversity and history of Arab American communities. )

Staff can also click here for the Apr. Staff AB/AR Links for a shared drive of some sample ideas and an Educator Resources connecting our theme to opportunities we can provide in our school communities for students, staff, and families around Identity Awareness and Action; resources curated by Newsela; and honoring Arab-American, Autism Awareness, and Hope Month! Also, our Voluntary AB/AR PD Series - new date! See more here.  

HUSD Families/Community! We encourage you to honor and celebrate Arab-American, Autism Awareness, and Hope Month this April. We encourage you to watch this video with your child(ren); then watch and follow along with this tutorial and share stories about how you maintain and spread hope in your families and communities (Bonus: Support yourselves and the youth in your life to reach out to create art and expressions of hope that can be shared with others).