Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Newsletter

Black History is American History. While we work in LPS to explicitly convey this message in the work we do throughout the year, ensuring that our community sees the important role Black Americans have played in the development, sustainability, and future of our country, Black History Month can provide us all an opportunity to pause and reflect on how effectively we are incorporating the perspectives and stories of Black Americans into all we do. This was part of Carter G. Woodson's idea in developing "Negro History Week" in 1926. Woodson, the second Black American to receive a PhD in history from Harvard (after W.E.B Du Bois a few years earlier), believed that learning about Black History was a necessary component of racial uplift. In this spirit, we invite students, staff, and community members to join us in celebration of the many contributions and achievements Black Americans have made throughout history and continue to make today. We hope it opens the door to more learning for those in our community just beginning to recognize this truth and pushes those who know it to be true to continue their next steps in the journey of lifelong learning.

These are just a few of the ways our schools are celebrating the month!

At the elementary schools, each grade level will have dedicated Social Studies lessons in honor of Black History Month:

• Kindergartners explore contributions and achievements of notable Black Americans, from many different fields.

• First graders examine photographs of Black people who have fought for greater equality, using the "See, Think, Wonder" protocol, trying to answer the questions "What does it mean to be fair? How have people fought to make things more fair?"

• Second graders explore the concept of "changemakers" and how both ordinary folks and leaders have fought to make the world a better place.

• Third graders examine the stories of three women (Elizabeth Freeman, Lucy Terry Prince, Phyllis Wheatley) who were enslaved in colonial Massachusetts and each gained their freedom in different ways.

• Fourth graders learn about the Harlem Renaissance, its connection to the Great Migration (part of their regular unit), focusing on some of the great jazz musicians of that era.

• Fifth graders examine the work of Titus Kaphar and the ways he uses his artwork to question the perspectives we represent (in art and history).

Some schools will also be celebrating Black History month by highlighting prominent figures in Black History, their accomplishments and contributions. These will be celebrated during Morning announcements, incorporating fun facts, videos, and read alouds.

The LHS Social Studies Department embeds Black history throughout the curriculum and the school year. However, in February, students will study some of the following topics:

• The History and Impact of Redlining

• Stacey Abrams' documentary All In: The Fight for Democracy

• West African Societies

• The Great Migration

• The Harlem Renaissance

• Civil Rights Activism

• The Haitian Revolution

The Performing Arts Department is highlighting the month with musical pieces, like the choral piece "Have Courage My Soul" written by Black composer Rollo Dillworth and the Wind Ensemble's "Of Our New Day Begun" by African-American composer Omar Thomas. Compositions like this have opened up deep conversations in these performing art classes about identity, including what it means to be a hero, as well as concepts of empathy, tolerance, and acceptance that extend beyond racial identities to other historically marginalized and silenced groups. K-12 Performing Arts Coordinator Jared Cassedy said, "I am completely taken aback by the sincere, honest, and compassionate dialogue that is being had."

Last winter, the high school and middle school PTOs generously funded a license for staff and students to view the important documentary, I'm Not Racist...Am I? Our staff viewing was scheduled just as COVID-19 closed our buildings for the spring and our plans for a student viewing were also thwarted. The community planned a virtual 2020 summer viewing of the film, and we are currently planning a staff and student viewing for the coming spring. In the mean time, through a generous grant from the Cary Library Foundation, LPS has a copy of The American Dream game that the students featured in the film play as part of their journey of learning about race and racism. We are thankful to our community partners, and we're excited to make this tool available to educators. Contact Kristen Cronin in the Office of Equity & Student Supports to borrow the game for use with students. Educator facilitation resources for playing the game are on the Point Made Learning website, including helpful tips and guidance for using the game with students. Cary Library has two copies of the game as well for community members to play! (However, it is currently unavailable to be borrowed due to COVID).

A group of K-12 administrators begins meeting regularly in January to continue refinement of a robust discipline data collection system, to be implemented with the start of the 2021-2022 school year that we hope will provide additional data to support our district and community equity goals when it comes to disciplinary practices in our schools.

As noted in our previous newsletter, we are committed to the following objectives when students make choices that negatively impact themselves and/or others in our community:

• To minimize students’ time out of class

• To promote learning and reflection

• To repair and prevent harm to the community

• To reduce the likelihood that the choice will be repeated

Significant research exists highlighting both the ineffectiveness of exclusionary practices like suspensions in reaching these goals and the efficacy of restorative practices in educational settings.

Additional general information is available on this page.