ACADEMICS
Around the World in 180 Days A Celebration of Cultures Throughout the School Year Michelle Andrade
Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications
L
earning about cultures and stories other than one’s own builds curiosity and compassion in humans. When people nurture not only self-awareness but the ability to empathize with the stories of others, their contribution to the world around them grows immeasurably. Ensworth strives to foster an environment equipped with the resources, lessons, and experiences for students to grow and learn so they can contribute and invest in the world around them. As a part of these efforts, the Office of Community Engagement and Inclusion (CEI) set a goal of honoring and celebrating various events and cultures as a school-wide community. Many schools and institutions celebrate months such as Native American Indian Heritage Month, Black History Month, and Women’s History Month. But what is the hope of these commemorative times? One of the goals at Ensworth is
to have the immersion extend beyond just a single month. The integration of such celebrations continues to be in the planning for each school year, but is enhanced through the incorporation of a deeper cross-curricular approach that weaves education and cultural awareness through various aspects of school life. With the induction of new representatives from each school division, the CEI office undertook such a feat. David Whitfield, Maurice Hopkins, and Hope Moeller, along with numerous faculty and staff members and the Parent Diversity Council, supported this effort to broaden the community’s scope on the world. There were talks, assemblies, activities, art exhibits, panel discussions, musical performances, special guests, and more, all emphasizing community engagement and inclusion.
Simple Shifts: •
CEI staff educated teachers about special religious holidays celebrated in our school community to better support families with their distinct needs while educating our community as a whole.
•
Community and family members visited individual classrooms aligned with curriculum and interest.
•
Special guests visited both campuses to share stories, traditions, practices, and rituals.
•
Assemblies were held with specific goals to inform and enlighten the community.
14 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
