8s, 9s, and 10s students spent their social justice meeting time discussing the Black Lives Matter guiding principles leading up to Black Lives Matter Week of Action.
In keeping with tradition, Corlears School is proud to join schools across the city and nation from Monday, January 31 through Friday, February 4 for Black Lives Matter Week of Action, a week of education and celebration rooted in the Black Lives Matter movement.
This social justice movement calls on society and schools to celebrate Black excellence and learn about the guiding principles steering the current movement for racial justice.
How Corlears Celebrates Black Lives Matter Week of Action
Each classroom will engage in conversations and activities centered around the Black Lives Matter guiding principles in ways that are developmentally appropriate for each age level.
While our younger students will listen to stories about love, empathy, and family; older students will dig deeper into principles of affirmation, restorative justice and collective value.
This year, our 10s will take the lead, sharing the guiding principles of the movement and inviting the community to celebrate Black lives through story, song, and symbolism. 10s students will be inviting the community to wear stickers, buttons and bracelets; visiting classrooms to speak with younger classes; and leading the assembly when our K–10s students will share their reflections from the week.
On Friday, February 4, we invite community members to wear a hoodie in honor of Trayvon Martin, who would have celebrated his 27th birthday on February 5. Trayvon was 17 years old when he was perceived as a threat and murdered by a neighborhood watchman while visiting his relatives. Trayvon’s death set off a wave of national protests against racial bias and an unjust criminal justice system, inspiring the early workings of the Black Lives Matter movement 10 years ago.
3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students work together to match Black Lives Matter guiding principles to Corlears core values.
While our classroom discussions will take shape in different ways, the message is the same: everyone deserves to feel a sense of belonging in our community. The Black Lives Matter Week of Action is an opportune moment in the year for Corlears to live out our mission and year-long commitment to conversations about social justice, identity, and inclusion.
“Beyond the BLM Week of Action, we believe in the ongoing integration of Black and brown experiences throughout all classrooms and curriculum as imperative,” writes Mansi Vasa, Corlears Director of Equity, Inclusion & Community Life. “From September to June, Corlears educators affirm and uplift the identity of every student, regularly reinforcing that Black Lives Matter every day.”
Ways You Can Celebrate Black Lives Matter Week of Action
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Corlears’ eldest students designed and illustrated Black Lives Matter buttons to hand out to fellow students and staff during the Week of Action.
“As adults, let us not forget that we, too, have work to do. How can we use our power in the service of love to demand truth and justice in the world?” Vasa says. “We need to ask ourselves: How is what I am learning, reflecting on, celebrating, supporting, and fighting for moving us closer to a loving and just world?”
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Learn about the movement’s guiding principles. View the PDF here to learn about the guiding principles.
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Seek out resources to do the work. We have a number of resources for kids and families on our website to get you started:
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Corlears Guide: Talking about Race, Identity & Inclusion (ages 2-4)
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Corlears Guide: Talking about Race, Identity & Inclusion (ages 5-7)
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Corlears Guide: Talking about Race, Identity & Inclusion (ages 8-10)
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Commit to race-conscious parenting accessing Embrace Race parenting resources
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Sign up for one of the following events hosted for parents by Pollyanna:
February 9, March 8, April 11 and May 18, 2022, from Noon–1:00 p.m.
MaPaGa: The ABCs of Race-Conscious Parenting
This is a 4-part workshop for parents/guardians of children four years and younger. Jacqueline Nelson, former kindergarten teacher, DEIB educator, and mom of a two year old, will create connections and community for families with young children and teach the group how to talk about race with each other and with their children.
February 17, 2022, from 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Race Talk Is Dividing Us!
This workshop will help parents and guardians learn accurate definitions of Racial Literacy and CRT (dispelling distortions and inaccuracies) as well as provide an overview of how Racial Literacy can be integrated into a curriculum to promote equity and belonging for all.
Additional Week of Action Resources for Families
Updated January 31, 2022
