WB INCLUSIVE
CELEBRATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS November 2023
Why is this important:
The West Bloomfield School District embraces a vibrant and culturally diverse community. By enhancing our celebrations and acknowledgments, we not only create a space where the rich tapestry of our community is visible and palpable but also foster a deeper understanding of one another and the world that surrounds us. This endeavor underscores our commitment to acknowledging the importance of cultural responsiveness within our educational system.
Within our multicultural calendar, we recognize and honor a wide array of holidays and observances from various parts of the world, including those with religious or faith-based significance. These insights and highlights in our newsletters are not just symbolic; they represent the entirety of the West Bloomfield School District, reflecting the shared humanity of West Bloomfield residents and people across the world.
As stewards of our own learning and as a service to humanity, I encourage you to delve into these resources, gaining a more profound understanding, and sharing this knowledge to promote awareness and mutual respect.
Monthly
- National Native American Heritage Month
- Movember
- Child Safety and Prevention Month
- Prematurity Awareness Month
- National Child Mental Health Month
- National Diabetes Awareness Month
- National Education/ Scholarship Month
- National Epilepsy Awareness Month
- National Family Caregivers Month
- National Family Literacy Month
Weekly:
- November 1-7 – World Communication Week
- November 12-18 – World Kindness Week
- November 13-17 – American Education Week
- November 19-25 – International Restorative Justice Week
Daily in November
1-2 – All Saints’ Day
1 – Autistic Speaking Day
1 – International Stress Awareness Day
9 – World Freedom Day
9 – World Adoption Day
11 – Veteran’s Day
12 – Diwali
13 – World Kindness Day
14 - Ruby Bridges National Walk to School Day
16 – International Day for Tolerance
16 – Dutch American Heritage Day
19 – International Men’s Day: a day uplifting the positive value men bring to the world, their families, and their respective communities
20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
20 – World Children’s Day
23 – Thanksgiving
24 – Native American Heritage Day
27 – Jain New Year
26- Baha’i
28 – Giving Tuesday
29 – Women Wednesday
November 11th is Veteran's Day
Veteran's Day: A Day of Reflection and Appreciation
Veteran's Day, observed on November 11th each year in the United States, is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel in service to their country. Originally known as Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of hostilities in World War I in 1918. In 1954, recognizing the contributions of veterans of all wars, the U.S. renamed it to Veteran's Day.
At its core, Veteran's Day is about gratitude, reflection, and acknowledgment of those who've dedicated themselves to protecting the values and freedoms we hold dear. In the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the day also reminds us of the myriad backgrounds, cultures, and experiences of those who've served. Military personnel come from all walks of life, representing a broad spectrum of the American tapestry. On this day, we celebrate both their shared commitment and their unique stories, advocating for their rights, well-being, and continued integration into the fabric of our society.
Celebrating and Honoring Diwali
Diwali is a significant festival in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. In a multicultural and diverse country like India, everyone has their own way of celebrating this festival. Even though their belief in it may be different, the enthusiasm, vivaciousness and joy it brings to people's lives is what binds everyone together.
Diwali is celebrated as the festival of lights, during which homes are decorated with candles. Diwali projects the rich and glorious past and teaches its observers to uphold the true values of life.
For the Hindus, the holiday symbolizes the return of Prince Rama of Ayodhya with his wife, Sita, and brother, Lakshman, from a 14-year-long exile and a war in which Prince Rama stood victorious. People of Ayodhya lit lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness.
To the Jains, it has a whole different meaning. For them, Diwali is the day when the last of the Jain Tirthankaras, Lord Mahavira, attained nirvana, also known as complete knowledge and enlightenment. Lord Mahavira established the dharma followed by the Jains worldwide.
For the Sikhs, Diwali is a story of the struggle for freedom. It celebrates the victory of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, from the designs of Emperor Jahangir, who had imprisoned him and 52 other princes with him, in 1619. Guru Hargobind refused to leave the prison for freedom until he was able to bring all of the princes with him.
Diwali is celebrated with worship, sharing sweets, fireworks and lights. While the story varies from region to region, its essence remains the same. People learn to rejoice in the inner light and the underlying reality of things.
https://www.brandeis.edu/spiritual-life/resources/guide-to-observances/diwali.html
Native American Heritage Month
Learning About Navajo Weaving
All this perhaps
As the woof goes to and fro,
Wafting as
Humble hopes, and joys and care,
Weaving closely
While I watch the pattern grow