National Principal Month
There are three really great organizations that help support principals at all levels.
The American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) promotes the professional, occupational, and economic interests of public school principals, administrators, and supervisors nationwide. As the only national education union for school administrators, it provides labor relations and professional services along with other support for its members.
The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) advocates for the support that elementary and middle school principals need to be successful leaders—to achieve the highest results for children, families, and communities.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for secondary school leaders. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student’s potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student.
National Physical Therapist (PT) Month
October is also National Physical Therapist Month which is a time to honor Physical Therapists and raises awareness of the many benefits of physical therapy. School-based physical therapists collaborate with other specialized instructional support personnel and school community members to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for students, and build student achievement in all areas that affect academic success and wellness.
When physical therapists assist with a students’ ability to have physical access to their education, they are establishing positive, long-lasting benefits. All aspects of children’s learning and development are connected. Motor skills are among the tools that are essential for academic success. Physical therapists’ educational background, their thorough understanding of human development and motor proficiency, and the scope of physical therapy practice render them uniquely equipped to facilitate the development of these skills.
October 2nd - School Custodian Appreciation Day
National School Custodian Appreciation Day is Sunday, October 2nd. School custodians are the quiet heroes of the school. They are always the first to arrive each day, clean up messes, and befriend everyone that passes by! Take note of the blue shirts and make sure to thank your school custodians when you return to school on Monday!
October 5th - Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur comes ten days after Rosh Hashanah and is also known as the Day of Atonement. Referred to as the Jewish High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are time for Jewish people to reflect on the past year and to seek forgiveness for the past and commit to making positive change in the next year (and beyond). Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day of the Jewish calendar and is a day of fasting and prayer.
Source: Anti-Defamation League - 5 Things to Know about the Jewish High Holidays
October 6th - National Coaches Day
No question: parents and teachers play a defining role in shaping a young person’s life. But let’s not forget about the coaches — especially on National Coaches Day October 6.
U.S. Olympic soccer gold medalist Julie Foudy once said that sports not only build better athletes but also better people. She should know. The lessons learned in athletic competition translate perfectly to all aspects of life. That’s because nearly all of the traits we associate as “positive” in other people play a crucial role in sports as well. Confidence. Communication. Teamwork. We won’t succeed on the field, in the office, or at home without them. The world’s best coaches, from Little League all the way to the World Cup, exemplify this winning tradition.
October 9th - 15th: Fire Prevention Week
Join NFPA® in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW). This year’s FPW campaign, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape™”, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires. Stay tuned for resources from the Framingham Fire Department as we get closer to this awareness week!
Source: https://www.nfpa.org/Events/Events/Fire-Prevention-Week/About
October 10th - Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day
The first seed of Indigenous Peoples’ Day was planted at a U.N. international conference on discrimination in 1977. The first state to recognize the day was South Dakota in 1989. Berkeley, California, and Santa Cruz followed suit.
Although the day was still considered Columbus Day up to 1937, many people began calling it Indigenous Peoples’ Day to celebrate the rich culture and the lives of the Native American people.
For the Native Americans, Columbus Day was always hurtful as it glorified the violent past constituting 500 years of colonial torture and oppression by European explorers like Columbus and those who settled in America.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates, recognizes, and honors the beautiful traditions and cultures of the Indigenous People, not just in America, but around the world. Their way of life and culture carries wisdom and valuable insights into how we can live life more sustainably.
Source: https://nationaltoday.com/indigenous-peoples-day/
Please Join Us For A Special Event!
Please mark your calendars for our community-wide annual recognition and celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day. We will have student speakers and a land acknowledgment by the Nipmuc Nation People on October 10th at Fuller Middle School. Please see the flyers attached below. All are welcome!
October 16th - 22nd: America's Safe Schools Week
The National School Safety Center (NSSC), Governors and school superintendents across the country promote America's Safe Schools Week, October 16-22, 2022. This is an observance also actively supported by local, state and national public officials and professional organizations.
NSSC's goal in this campaign is to motivate key education and law enforcement policymakers, as well as students, parents and community residents, to vigorously advocate school safety. School safety includes keeping campuses free of crime and violence, improving behaviors, and increasing student attendance. Schools that are safe and free of violence, weapons and drugs are necessary to ensure the well-being of all children and the quality of their education.
October 17th - 21st - National School Bus Safety Week
Held during the third full week of October each year, National School Bus Safety Week is an active and evolving public education program and an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties - to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. Designed to promote school bus safety, school districts throughout the country observe School Bus Safety Week. More to come on this :)
Source: https://www.napt.org/nsbsw
October 19th - Unity Day (Bullying Prevention)
Some of us just discovered Unity Day (or Day of Unity) which is celebrated on October 19th this year. This is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month when PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center promotes multiple anti-bullying campaigns. The key message of this month, and this day, is to unite for kindness, courage, and inclusion, to prevent students from being bullied.
JOIN US TO WEAR AND SHARE ORANGE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022 to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying.
Source: https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp and https://nationaltoday.com/day-of-unity/
October 24th - Diwali / Deepavali Begins
October 24th is the beginning of a 5-day festival called Diwali (also called Deepavali by South Indians). It is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists (Vajrayana branch, prominent in Tibet, Nepal and Japan). It is celebrated in India, Nepal, Japan, Tibet, Fiji, Guayana, Trinidad/Tobago, and some other regions in Asia, Africa, and the Islands.
The name “Diwali” comes from the Sanskrit word, Deepavali, or “deep,” meaning lamp, and “avali,” meaning row. Thus, the translation is a “row of lamps.” People light lamps or candles on the first day and keep them burning 24/7 for five days and nights. The holiday symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The festivities are marked by lighting oil lamps, hanging lanterns, making colorful patterns on the floor called rangoli, preparing sweets, and most importantly, coming together with family and friends to express gratitude. Diwali represents peace, truth, and love, which are shared goals across our community, our country, and the world, as these are beliefs that can unite us in our humanity. People wish each other "Happy Diwali" or "Diwali Mubaarak". It is celebrated across the USA in all major cities.
