African American History Month and NAAPID

Dear Mitchell Families and Community Members,

In connection to Mitchell School's celebration of National African American History Month and our work as an International Baccalaureate World School, we proudly announce the second annual IB unit of study for all students at Mitchell: WE MARCH.

The unit focuses on social justice, equality and the role of marching in the African American Civil Rights movement. The unit integrates books, music and the visual arts as a way for students to inquire, think, discuss and reflect on:

• Civil rights leaders
• Fairness
• Community
• Our individual and collective rights
• Action - taking action in order to make the world a more peaceful place, and studying how people make their voice heard in the form of marching 

Two central ideas students will be/are studying:

·       Societies use the arts to promote their values and to advocate for social change.

·       People show their beliefs and values through the arts they create.

Parents/Guardians Invited to Mitchell - Monday, February 12!   All parents/guardians are invited to come to school on Monday, February 12 as a part of National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID).  We will be highlighting some of the work from the new unit during this time. Here is the schedule of events: All day - Parents/Guardians invited to school to visit your child's classroom All day - Visit the Community Center for refreshments for parents from your teachers All day - Social justice art displays around the school All day - The Great Lakes African American Quilters Network will be displaying quilts (stories) in connection to the African American Civil Rights Movement. Additionally, third graders will be learning from GLAAQN and will be creating a quilt square for a Mitchell School quilt. 9:30 AM – PK-2nd Gd. Assembly - Songs and sharing the current all-school music unit of study 10:30 AM – 3rd-5th Gd. Assembly – Songs and sharing the current all-school music unit of study Follow up discussions/activities following assembly. Many classrooms will be connecting to their recent reading of the book, The Youngest Marcher; the true story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, in this picture book that proves you're never too young to make a difference.

Continuing the Conversation!

Whether or not you are able to come to school on Monday, February 12 for the assembly and NAAPID, here are some questions to ask and discuss at home that are connections to the new unit:

·       What difficult issues and obstacles were people singing about in the songs from the Civil Rights Movement?

·       What are things that are challenges for you that you would sing about?

·       When something is hard for you, how do you keep going and not let anything "turn you 'round?"

·       Why do groups of people fight for social justice?

·       What are some examples of rights people promote?

·       What messages can be conveyed through art?

·       What can you look for in a work of art that tells you what it is about?

·       What inspires people to create art/music with a message?

·       What sort of action can art/music inspire people to make?

We are really excited to share this unit with you!