Diversity Calendar

The purpose of the Diversity Calendar calendar is to address and support the diversity of students, staff and families. We recognize that by increasing our understanding of
diverse cultures, their group experiences, traditions, values and beliefs we can enhance our relationships with one another and hence, become a
culturally responsive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

Due to the extensive number of cultural holidays, dates for this calendar were determined by the following four criteria:
1. Might a student or staff member be absent as a result of this day?
2. Might a student or staff member be disengaged as a result of this day (e.g., hunger or a negative association with a particular day/date such as
Thanksgiving, or a day of remembrance of a tragic event)?
3. Might a student, family, or staff member not be able to participate in a school activity during or after school as a result of this day? (e.g., Many of our
students do not participate in Halloween or Valentines Day. There are students, families and staff who can not participate in district/school events
that are scheduled on the evening of an important religious day observed by the Jewish and Muslim communities.)
4. Does the day provide opportunity for a teachable moment regarding ethnic or cultural diversity that might not otherwise be discussed, particularly
those dates associated with a continued history of oppression, discrimination, or racism?

We ask for your patience in the event that we have missed important dates that apply to the four criteria. This was an enormous task handled by a
handful of individuals of good will and intention. If you know of another date that meets the above criteria and therefore should have been included, or
if there is a date listed that does not meet the criteria and therefore should not have been included, please contact Ilsa Govan at
ilsa.govan@culturesconnecting.com.

If you know of appropriate websites, books, or other resources email Ilsa Govan. Also, please inform us of any websites that were inappropriately chosen
to explain a particular day.

This calendar began as a project of Seattle Public Schools.