WUSD Special Events Calendar
What: WUSD created a calendar to recognize the special events and celebrations that are celebrated by our students, families and employees. If an event that you celebrate is missing from our calendar this year, please complete our 2022-2023 Special Events Calendar Submissions to add it to next year's calendar.
Who: We see this as a collaborative effort and ask that you share these important dates with us.
How: You may simply share the date and name of an event. Or, you may also share pictures, videos, and reflections of the events that are important to you. Visit our Community Share page to learn more! If you are interested in working together to educate others about an event or celebration, please contact Dr. Monique Ingram (mingram@wusd.org).
September 2021
WUSD Theme: Community
As we begin our 2021-2022 school year, let's focus on building community! Take time to meet new people, make friends, and learn new things even about our long-time friends. At home, talk about the new people students are meeting at school and practice ways they can meet new people. Encourage students to learn new things about others and to share qualities, interests, and values about themselves. Reflect on why it might be easier to make friends with some people versus others. Challenge students to move beyond their comfort zones and find common interests with someone they don't usually spend time with. Model community-building practices through your own actions and by sharing your experiences.
Hispanic Heritage Month- 09/15 - 10/15
Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities. The event, which spans from September 15 to October 15, commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large. The term Hispanic or Latino (or the more recent term Latinx refers to a person’s culture of origin-- regardless of race. National Hispanic Heritage Month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries.
Suicide Prevention Month
Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. Suicide Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness on this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. Mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to access to resources to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.
National School Success Month
National School Success Month provides the perfect opportunity to think about goals and expectations for the commencing school year. Take the time to compose goals and create a plan to accomplish them.
09/06 - Labor Day
Labor Day is an annual celebration of workers and their achievements and originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters. In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages. The idea of a “workingmen’s holiday,” celebrated on the first Monday in September, caught on in other industrial centers across the country, and many states passed legislation recognizing it. Congress would not legalize the holiday until 12 years later.
09/06 - 09/08 - Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is a fall holiday, taking place at the beginning of the month of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the Jewish year (counting from Nisan in the spring). It is both a time of rejoicing and of serious introspection, a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock on one’s life.
09/08 - International Literacy Day
Since 1967, International Literacy Day (ILD) celebrations have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. Despite progress made, literacy challenges persist with at least 773 million young people and adults lacking basic literacy skills today.
09/11 - Patriot Day
In the United States, Patriot Day, observed as the National Day of Service and Remembrance, occurs on September 11th of each year in memory of the 2,977 people killed in the 2001 September 11 attacks. The flag of the United States is flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset.
09/15 - 09/16 - Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement - is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Falling in the month of Tishrei (September or October in the Gregorian calendar), it marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
October 2021
WUSD Theme: Promises and Commitments
In October, we will focus on promises and commitments. Let's not only set short-term and long-term goals, but also identify a path which will help us achieve those goals. Encourage your student to make promises in different categories. They can make longer-term promises for the school year and shorter term promises each week. Students can even make daily promises to themselves and others. These are especially helpful if they are in the form of daily affirmations like, "I promise to learn from my mistakes", "I promise to show grace and kindness to myself just like I do to others". Promises can be made about different topics (e.g., school, family, chores, activities) and also to different people (e.g., themselves, family members, friends, teacher, coach).
Filipino-American History Month
October was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos who landed in what is now Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587. It is also the birth month of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong. California and Hawaii are where many Filipino Americans reside.
Italian-American Heritage Month
Italian American Heritage Month is celebrated every year to honor and recognize the centuries of achievements, successes, and valuable contributions of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans.Over 5 million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 2000. Currently, there are over 26 million Americans of Italian descent residing in the United States.
Polish-American Heritage Month
Millions of Polish people immigrated to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bringing with them a love for independence, their culture, their new country, and values that are shared by Poles and Americans alike. Polish American Heritage Month is observed in October, in part to honor the arrival of the first Polish settlers in Jamestown, Virginia in 1608, and also to commemorate the deaths of General Kazimierz Pułaski (11 October, 1779) and Tadeusz Kościuszko (15 October, 1817), two renowned military leaders who fought for our independence during the American Revolution.
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign in the United States founded in 2006 by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is held during the month of October and unites communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. Bullying often has long-term effects such as a loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression for those involved. October is dedicated to spreading awareness and prevention strategies to ensure safe spaces for everyone.
10/02 - National Custodian Day
National Custodial Worker's Recognition Day encourages appreciation to the employees who keep our schools and workplaces across the nation running smoothly. Custodial workers operate behind the scenes and are often under-appreciated for the hard work they do day-after-day for their physically demanding work. No matter where they work, this day recognizes custodian’s dedication and hard work.
10/03 - 10/09 - National Fire Prevention Week
Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.
10/06 - National Walk to School Day
Walk to School Day in the USA began in 1997 as a one-day event aimed at building awareness for the need for walkable communities.The goal of this day is to raise awareness and support for the health, community and environmental benefits of regularly walking or biking to school. The weather is also very nice on this day too!
10/11 - Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day
Columbus Day is recognized on the second Monday of October, and became a federal holiday in 1937. This day commemorates that Christopher Columbus landed in what is now known as the Bahamas in 1492, and found what is known as the new world while trying to find India. He was the first European to explore the Americas. Many major cities now recognize this day as Indigenous Peoples' Day instead. Indigenous Peoples’ Day reimagines Columbus Day and changes a celebration of colonialism into an opportunity to reveal historical truths about genocide and oppression of indigenous peoples in the Americas. Click here to read more.
10/16 - 10/24 (WUSD observance) - Red Ribbon Week
Red Ribbon Week (10/23 - 10/31, nationally) is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October in the United States. It began as a tribute to fallen DEA special agent Enrique Camerena in 1985. According to the United States DEA, Red Ribbon Week is the nation's largest and longest-running drug awareness and prevention program.
10/17 - 10/23 - America’s Safe Schools Week
The National School Safety Center’s goal in this campaign is to motivate key education and law enforcement policymakers, as well as students, parents and community residents, to vigorously advocate school safety. School safety includes keeping campuses free of crime and violence, improving discipline practices, and increasing student attendance. Schools that are safe and free of violence, weapons and drugs are necessary to ensure the well-being of all children and the quality of their education.
10/18 - 10/22 - Digital Citizenship Week
Every year, the third week of October is coined Digital Citizenship Week. Teachers use this time to teach about digital citizenship and support students in developing the skills they need to use devices safely, ethically, and effectively.
10/23 - Make a Difference Day
National Make A Difference Day is the largest day of community service and brings community service to a whole new level each year. Organizations join forces on the fourth Saturday in October to make a difference, big or small. Millions of people have united in the common mission to improve the lives of others.
10/24 - United Nations Day
United Nations Day is an annual commemorative day, reflecting the official creation of the United Nations on October 24, 1945. On October 24, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly declared the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, "shall be devoted to making known to the people of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations and to gaining their support for" its work.
10/28 - First Responders Day
National First Responders Day recognizes the heroic men and women whose profession it is to respond immediately (first) to an accident or emergency (i.e., paramedics, emergency medical technicians, nurses, police officers, firefighters, and personnel directly supporting police and fire departments such as 911 dispatchers). First responders have been on the frontlines of the pandemic and have worked hard to keep our society safe.
10/31 - Halloween
Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31st. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.
2021-2022 Special Events Infographic (3).pdf