This month we would like to focus our lens on Fort Meigs Elementary School!

21 Day Challenge
We are so excited about the participation in the 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Mini-Challenge at Fort Meigs! This is a challenge where, for 21 days, participants make one action to further their understanding of power, privilege, supremacy, oppression and equity. This may include readings, podcasts, videos, observations and ways to form and deepen community connections. More information may be found by clicking here.

We are just over halfway through the challenge and there are about 20-25 people participating. What's really neat is that we have people from a variety of positions participating – classroom teachers, encore teachers, intervention teachers, secretaries, etc. And more than half of these folks are completing both options for each daily challenge. From survey feedback, the most interesting challenges have been about the history of reparations and gender and sexuality in sports. Employees have commented: "I was surprised at how much I didn't know about reparations that were happening all over the world," and "These challenges have opened my eyes to things I have not really thought about."
 
Fort Meigs CQ Library
This fall, Christin Lee began a collection of books in the employee lounge that was recommended by the CQ CommUNITY. Several employees have borrowed books such as Blindspot, Educated, Hillbilly Elegy, Small Great Things, Stamped and White Fragility. These books are available through the school district office, however, having these books available within the school building has made materials about racial equity and social justice even more accessible.
 
Black History Month
Also at Fort Meigs, Shauna Hunter's 4th grade class integrated portraits by a local artist into their classroom during Black History Month. Students did research on the individuals of the portraits that were displayed in our school during the month of February and created music videos to present their information. They also developed interview questions and had a Zoom conference call with the artist, Rob Vanitvelt.
 
CQ Presentations
Finally, Darryl Edge, CQ Community member and 4th grade teacher, has shared presentations with the Fort Meigs staff from the Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic subgroups of the CQCommUNITY. Darryl also met with the T&L Department as a CQ CommUNITY member to obtain funds for all teachers to receive a copy of an age-appropriate book that focuses on Asian American culture to use in their classrooms.

May Dates
• May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks on the project were Chinese immigrants.
• May is Older Americans Month, established in 1963 to honor the legacies and contributions of older Americans and to support them as they enter their next stage of life.
• May is Jewish American Heritage Month, which recognizes the diverse contributions of the Jewish people to American culture.
• May is Mental Health Awareness Month (or Mental Health Month), which aims to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illnesses and reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses.

May 1: Beltane, an ancient Celtic festival celebrated on May Day, signifying the beginning of summer.
May 2: Orthodox Easter (also called Pascha), a later Easter date than observed by many Western churches.
May 3: Saints Philip and James, a Roman Rite feast day for the anniversary of the dedication of the church to Saints Phillip and James in Rome.
May 5: Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday commemorating the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). This day celebrates Mexican culture and heritage, including parades and mariachi music performances.
May 6: National Day of Prayer, a day of observance in the United States when people are asked to “turn to God in prayer and meditation.”
May 9: Laylat al-Qadr, the holiest night of the year for Muslims, is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. It is known as the Night of Power and commemorates the night that the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
May 12-13 (sundown to sundown): Eid al-Fitr, the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, marking the end of Ramadan. Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to a khutuba (sermon), and give Zakat al-Fitr (charity in the form of food) during Eid al-Fitr.
May 13: Ascension of Jesus or Ascension Day, is celebrated as the ascension of Christ from Earth in the presence of God within most of the Christian faith.
May 16-18 (sundown to sundown): Shavuot, a Jewish holiday that has double significance. It marks the all-important wheat harvest in Israel and commemorates the anniversary of the day when God gave the Torah to the nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai.
May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, a global celebration of sexual-orientation and gender diversities.
May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a day set aside by the United Nations as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together in harmony.
May 22-23 (sundown to sundown): Declaration of the Báb, the day of declaration of the Báb, the forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í faith.
May 23: Pentecost, the celebration of the giving of the Ten Commandments by God at Mount Sinai.
May 26: Buddha Day (Vesak or Visakha Puja), a Buddhist festival that marks Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. It falls on the day of the full moon in May and it is a gazetted holiday in India.
May 31: Memorial Day in the United States, a federal holiday established to honor military veterans who died in wars fought by American forces.
May 29: Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, commemorates the ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í faith.
May 30: Trinity Sunday, observed in the Western Christian faith as a feast in honor of the Holy Trinity.
May 30: All Saints’ Day, celebrated by many Eastern Christian churches on the first Sunday after Pentecost, in recognition of all known and unknown saints.