Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Aguas Frescas, chips and salsa, and learning about Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel, who uses color and geometric shapes. Learning about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and enjoying apples and honey. Making rangoli on the sidewalk to celebrate Diwali. Creating a winter tree for our Collaborative Bulletin Board to recognize and learn about winter holidays.
These are just a few ways students enrolled in our Extended Day program experience belonging and mattering as a natural part of their afternoons. The Extended Day curriculum team collaborates to identify meaningful ways to teach children about holidays and heritage months highlighted in our Cultural Awareness Calendar— a document developed in alignment with Country Day’s Mission and Affirmation of Community, and that helps educators create both mirrors that affirm students’ own identities and windows that broaden awareness of others’ traditions.
Elise ErnetteDirector of Extended Day
It is important to us that every child feels seen, known, and loved,” says Director of Extended Day Elise Ernette. “Our hope is that celebrating special holidays, traditions, and cultures help foster a strong sense of belonging and appreciation for diversity.”
Lessons include bringing students together by grade level to watch a brief video or engage in discussions about the importance of these celebrations. When possible, guest speakers share their experiences and knowledge with our students. And during heritage months, Extended Day students often learn about a specific individual or group and work on a collaborative art project that connects to what they have learned. And, of course, a special snack that represents the culture being highlighted is always a hit with the kids!