Our Farragut Fox Friends in 3rd grade created a beautiful Ofrenda in celebration of Dia De Los Muertos.
Welcome to Foxes Celebrate! This is where we share snapshots from the lives of our students and families, highlighting school projects, cultural celebrations, and holiday traditions. In the Farragut Fox Village, we believe in celebrating diversity and fostering an inclusive environment where every culture is appreciated. Enjoy photos and stories from our vibrant community as we honor what makes each of us unique!
Our Shared Learning: This month, we honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today. Throughout the month, as we reflect about Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, we can also use this time to celebrate and recognize the many Indigenous communities and cultures that make up our great country.
Linked slide with books and other resources to learn about Native American Heritage Month: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10DebpQ5ysKmULAWx5KGoyOt5RxqxQY-mR783FQ8dips/edit?usp=sharing
This Beautiful Native Heritage Month Poster was made Farragut Mom/PTA VP Membership, Aja Davis.
Thank you to Ms. O’ Neal for sharing a picture of your Family from your hometown at the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota.
On Tuesday, November 12th, 2024, Farragut’s own Ms. Shonda O'Neal was honored at the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) Board meeting and received the Native American Heritage Month Proclamation. This recognition was part of the district’s efforts to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions and culture of Native American communities.
The proclamation, presented by the CCUSD Board of Education, underscores the importance of Native American Heritage Month and highlights the significant role that Native American history and traditions play in shaping our nation's identity. The event also served as a reminder of the ongoing work to support and uplift Indigenous communities.
Ms. Shonda O'Neal, 4th Grade teacher at Farragut, has long been an advocate for celebrating the representation & sovereignty of Native American people. Her efforts in promoting education and awareness about Native American culture has made a lasting impact within the district and beyond.
PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined and is home to the Oglala Lakota people. It is an area of raw beauty, rich culture, and extreme economic hardship. The tribal government is located in the town of Pine Ridge.
Fun fact: Kevin Costner, the star of the 1990 movie Dances with Wolves, was honored by the Lakota Sioux Nation for his portrayal of the Lakota Sioux culture and his sensitivity to their traditions:
● Adoption: A Lakota elder adopted Costner into his family, and two other families adopted other cast members.
● Honorary membership: The Lakota Nation adopted Costner as an honorary member.
● Hand-woven quilt: Tribal leaders presented Costner with a hand-woven quilt.
● Eagle feather: Tribal leaders tied a sacred eagle feather in Costner's hair.
Attached is a slide with books on Veterans Day that can be read with children and while you are at it, mark off the November reading log! Cultural Calendar WEBSITE linked here.
We observe Veterans Day holiday to honor & recognize the brave souls that sacrifice and serve to protect our nation. Let us also take a moment to reflect on how we take care of our war veterans & different ways to protect our most vulnerable neighbors and be resourceful within our own communities. Did you know that approximately 10% of the homeless population in L.A. County is comprised of War Veterans?
Los Angeles has a large population of veterans, many of whom rely on the resources available to them in the city. Veterans Day is an important time to raise awareness of the services available to them, such as the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, which provides healthcare and support services for veterans.
Los Angeles is home to several important memorials and monuments dedicated to U.S. military veterans:
● The Veterans Memorial Building in Culver City is a significant landmark dedicated to honoring military veterans. Located at 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City, this building serves as a gathering place for veterans and their families, as well as a popular venue for events and community programs.
● The Los Angeles National Cemetery: Located in Westwood, this cemetery is the final resting place for thousands of veterans from various wars. On Veterans Day, the cemetery holds special ceremonies and gatherings to honor fallen service members.
● The Veterans Memorial Park: In downtown LA, this park is dedicated to veterans and includes sculptures, plaques, and other tributes to military service.
Our 3rd Graders celebrated by building an Ofrenda and inviting families and friends to celebrate with them.
In honor of Diwali on October 31st, Ronin’s family has generously invited us into their home to get a glimpse of how and why Diwali is celebrated. https://youtu.be/EP1UEcePdbM
Foxes Celebrate: Happy Filipino American Heritage Month!
Maligayang Buwan ng Kasaysayan ng Filipino American!
Culver City passed the proclamation for Filipino American Heritage Month on October 14, 2024. Nikki Hart, mom of two Farragut Foxes Elliott & Ivy, and PTA’s VP of Community Engagement was there to receive and celebrate the Filipino American Heritage Month Proclamation! This proclamation recognizes and celebrates the contributions of Filipino Americans to our community.
Did you know that the Los Angeles area is home to the second largest Filipino population outside of the Philippines? Visit www.CulverCityKapwa.com to connect with your Filipino neighbors.
Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian American group in the U.S. and the third-largest ethnic group in California. October is recognized as Filipino American History Month, celebrating the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the U.S. on October 18, 1587. This date marks the landing of "Luzones Indios" from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza in Morro Bay, California. In 2009, Congress officially designated October as Filipino American History Month. Filipinos and Filipino Americans have significantly contributed to American culture and history as educators, labor leaders, entertainers, and more. Learning about Filipino American history enriches our understanding of American history as a whole.
Resources: http://fanhs-national.org/filam/about/
Check out this Slide for books and more reading resources: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zZHi78ZhW81gCpse2qcpBMt6ZF9zBkZ5OiUTT2_C4QU/edit?usp=sharing
Happy Navratri to all Fox Families celebrating this festival!
Navratri is the beginning of a “nine-night festival during the Hindu month of Ashwin, and is a celebration of the Feminine Divine. In the coming weeks, we will be sharing how some of our fox families celebrate the festival of Diwali with their loved ones.
We are wishing all Fox Families celebrating/observing the High Holy day of Yom Kippur an easy fast. May you be sealed in the Book of Life.
September 15th marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month and to celebrate our communities, we had an interactive Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Assembly on Friday, September, 13th.
Parent Volunteers were welcomed to join the students as they enjoyed this interactive assembly provided through the Bloom Arts Foundation whose mission is to provide access to high-quality arts education to students from early childhood through high school.
The arts education goals of this assembly were to
- Learn history, culture and customs
- Sense of belonging and inclusivity
- Rhythm and dance, and much more!
Thank you to our parent volunteers for signing up to chaperone the students and joining the fun!