APC

Upcoming important dates:
Nov 11          Veterans Day
Nov 12          Diwali
Nov 12-18     United Against Hate Week
 
Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on Nov 11 to honor military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable). It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which are commemorated in other countries to mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I formally ended at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major US veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. You can learn more here.

Diwali, or Dipawali, is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. This year, it is celebrated on Sunday, Nov 12. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians. Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that’s also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. You can learn more about Diwali here.
 
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November is National Native American Heritage month. And some important upcoming dates include:

• Oct 31-Nov 2     Dia de los Muertos
• Nov 11               Veterans Day
• Nov 12               Diwali
• Nov 12-18          United Against Hate Week

The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday when families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from Oct 31-Nov 2. While Tuesday, Oct 31 is Halloween, Thursday, Nov 2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on Oct 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on Nov 2. For more information click here.
 
If you would like to learn more about the DEIB committee please contact us. Our next meeting is Sunday, Nov 5. And please follow us! We post activities and opportunities happening around the Bay Area.  

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Filipino heritage month is all of October. The month of October was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos who landed in what is now Morro Bay, California on Oct 18, 1587. It is also the birth month of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong. You can learn more by clicking on the links below. You can support locally owned Filipino businesses this month and throughout the year by visiting The Hideout and Venture Goods in Lafayette and Town Bakery in Moraga.

Filipino American History Month – Wikipedia,
Larry Itliong (U.S. National Park Service)
About Filipino American History Month – FANHS
FANHS Museum
Filipino American History Month Virtual Events – Visions In Education
Why We Celebrate Filipino American History Month | HuffPost Impact
TGIF – Thank God I’m Filipino
 
On Friday, Oct 27, there is a Dia De Los Muertos Dance Concert at St. Mary’s College from 8-10pm presented by Baile Folklorico Guadalupano and SMC Dance Company. All are welcome! You can read more about it here.
 
If you would like to learn more about the DEIB committee please contact us. Our next meeting is Sunday, Nov 5. And please follow us! We post activities and opportunities happening around the Bay Area.  
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October is LGBTQ History month, an annual, month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer history. The month, meant to highlight and celebrate the history and achievements of LGBTQ people, was founded in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, a social studies teacher in Missouri who wanted to address the failure of textbooks to address LGBTQ issues. October was chosen because it built on existing traditions such as National Coming Out Day (Oct 11) and the anniversaries of the first two LGBTQ marches in Washington in 1979 and 1987. Each year, a growing number of educators find ways to bring LGBTQ history into their curricula, opening up a dialogue that will hopefully lead to a deeper exploration of LGBTQ themes throughout the school year.  If you are interested in learning more, here are resources that you might find useful:

• Timeline of events @ Glsen
• San Francisco LGBTQ history museum

Please join us on Tuesday, Oct 17 for a presentation with Alberto Ledesma in the Acalanes library at 7pm*. All parents and students in the district are invited. Alberto Ledesma, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at UC Berkeley, will share his experience as an undocumented immigrant to “hyper documents” university professor, and more. Check out his book Diary of aReluctant Dreamer.
 
*Members of the DEI committee will be gathering prior to the presentation in the front quad at 6:40pm for a meet and greet. Please join us to connect and build a more robust parent community. Open to all parents and caregivers!
 
On Friday, Oct 23, there is also a Dia De Los Muertos Dance Concert at St. Mary’s College from 8-10pm presented by Baile Folklorico Guadalupano and SMC Dance Company. All are welcome! You can read more about it here.
 
If you would like to learn more about the DEIB committee please contact us. Our next meeting is Sunday, Nov 5. And please follow us! We post activities and opportunities happening around the Bay Area.  
Instagram and Facebook