September 15th through October 15th National Hispanic Heritage Month

Let us recall not only this month, but every month we are fortunate to walk upon the soil of mother Earth, that diversity is our strength. Greater human beings before me have stated it more eloquently than I can ever state it, so I pass the medium on to them.

Barack Obama: "We need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion. This isn't a matter of political correctness. It's a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our opens and the way that we respect every faith."


Maya Angelou: "It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength."


Robert Kennedy: "America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity - there very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired."


Cesar Chavez: "We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community - and this nation."

Now that the above has been shared, let us focus our attention on to National Hispanic Heritage Month. This is the period from September 15 to October 15 in the United States, when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate the group's heritage and culture.

September was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. All declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18, and September 2, respectively.

Here are a few additional resources for you and your expanded learning staff to access:

a) Hispanic Heritage Month Resources (Website)

b) Latinos in History (Website)

c) National Hispanic Heritage Month Activities (Website)

d) Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Website)

e) 24 Great Ideas for Hispanic Heritage Month (Website)

f) Hispanic Heritage Month: Latino Doctors, Scientists, and Educators (Website)


STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Can Teaching Civics Save Democracy 
    (NPR Article by Ariana Figueroa, September 22, 2017)

2) How One Group is Working to Build a More Diverse Teaching Force
     (NPR Article by Anya Kamenetz, September 19, 2017)

3) How to Make Every Grade Like Kindergarten
    (NPR Article by Anya Kamenetz, September 18, 2017)

4) 2016-2017 State of Expanded Learning in California
    (California After School Network)

5) Standing Up for Immigrant Kids 
    (After School Alliance blog by Sil Ganzo', September 15, 2017)

6) Girls Who Code Clubs: Prepare Girls in Your Community For the Future
     (After School Alliance blog by Leah Silverberg, September 5, 2017)

7) Kindness Curriculum Shown To Improve Grades and Relationship Skills
    (Education Week Article by Brenda Lasevoll, September 20, 2017)


STEM / STEAM / Bullying Prevention / DACA / etc. Resources:

1) NGSS Parent Guides (Spanish and English)

2) Teaching Tolerance Lesson Plans (Various Topics and Grade Levels)

3) STEM Gems Activities (National After School Alliance)

4) Bullying Prevention Activities (K-3)

5) Eyes on You Bullying Prevention Activities (Grades 4-8) 

6) Teaching Students to Prevent Bullying (Lesson Plans for Various Grades)

7) Anti-Bullying Activities for Teens (Lesson Plans)

8) There is No Apolitical Classroom (Resources for Teaching in these Times)

9) Immigrant and Refugee Children (A Guide for Educators and Support Staff)

10) DACA Resources

11) Immigrant Legal Resource Center (DACA Resources)

12) City of Sacramento DACA Resources (Sacramento)



STEM / Non-STEM Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources (Edutopia)
    (Updated on September 12, 2017)

2) Bank of the West (Grant Page) 

3) Wells Fargo Community Grants (California Grants Page)

4) CAN Afterschool Grants Page (CAN Webpage)

5) The Impact Foundry Grant Page (Updated)

6) NSF Grant Advancing Informal STEM
    (Due Date November 7, 2017)



Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Symposiums / etc.

1) GEMS Spooky Science of Energy Transformation
    (SMUD) (Cost: Free) (October 18, 2017)

2) California Dream'n Site Coordinator Symposium

    (October 20-21, 2017) (Cost: $50.00 + slight surcharge for two-day event)

3)  California STEAM Symposium

    (December 10-11, 2017) ($345 per participant)

Thanks again for all that you do in the field. Please keep us posted about STEM 
events / activities in your area. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

Monica Gonzalez-Williams (SCOE: Region 3: After School Regional Lead):
mgonzalez@scoe.net

Phil Romig (SCOE: Science Curriculum Specialist): promig@scoe.net

Mark Drewes (SCOE: Project Specialist II: Expanded Learning) mdrewes@scoe.net