Teachers Reflect on Women’s History Month in New Rochelle High School 

By Alanna Contreras

Each year, the month of March is officially designated as Women's History Month through a presidential proclamation. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women's History Week. This week was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day, which falls on March 8. Over time, the celebration expanded, and in 1987, Congress passed a resolution designating March as Women's History Month in the United States. Since then, Women's History Month has been recognized annually, celebrating the achievements and contributions of women throughout history.

As we celebrate Women's History Month in New Rochelle High School it is best to recognize the outstanding women who inspire and empower us daily. From students to teachers, administrators to staff members, the women in New Rochelle High School play an important role in shaping our community and inspiring positive change. In every corner of our school, women are making a difference, whether it's excelling in academics, leading student organizations, or demonstrating acts of kindness and compassion. Their impact extends far beyond the classroom, influencing the lives of those around them.

Here is what some of the women at our school had to say about what Women's History Month means to them:

“I am proud to be a woman in STEM, and especially to be allowed to educate and inspire other females in the field. I feel like many women work especially hard in STEM because we recognize the challenges that were overcome to allow us to study and work in the field of science. I have faced prejudices in college classrooms, industry, and even in my teaching career because there are still people who think that a Y chromosome makes you better at math and science. We are here to prove them wrong! It has been really exciting to see the number of girls in advanced STEM classes grow over the years here at NRHS. Women's History Month serves as a way to honor the work done by the trailblazing women who came before and also a reminder to never stop fighting for a seat at the table.” - Mrs. Zumbo, Chemistry teacher

“Women's History Month has never been more important.  It was not that long ago that women could not make medical decisions about their own bodies, go after certain career choices, have a credit card or even vote. The Month helps remind people of the hard work, determination, and even life-risking efforts that women (and their supporters) went through to bring equality. In many countries that is still not a reality - and in current American political times - it's never been more at risk. Acknowledging women who broke boundaries in areas such as politics, sports, the Arts, medicine and science reminds people of changes that were made in all aspects of life, and can inspire others to continue to push laws to further the equality of all humans on the planet.” - Ms. Brock, Art teacher

“For me, Women's History Month is a time that we truly get to dedicate our attention to the achievements of women all around the world. I love seeing and learning about the impact that women have had and the changes we continue to make to improve the world as we know it. I am very proud of the Social Studies Honor Society students for creating an entire gallery in House 4 displaying the achievements of so many influential women!” - Ms. Velez, Global History teacher

"To me, Women's History Month is a time to be thankful for the trailblazing women throughout history who fought for our rights as well as a time to think about how we can further fight against inequalities such as the glass ceiling." - Ms. O'Sullivan, Spanish teacher