February 3-7: Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action

January 21, 2020

Dear District 65 Parents and Caregivers, 

We are pleased to announce that District 65 is once again participating in the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action from February 3 through February 7, 2020. This is a continued collaboration by District 65 educators and is supported by the District 65 Educators’ Council (DEC), district and school administrators, and the School Board. It is an important opportunity for district educators to promote racial equity work, center Black lives in our teaching and learning, and connect to a global network of individuals striving to make the world more just. 

After receiving feedback from last year, a group of educators came together as a summer project in order to create a unit of study for the week. The scope and sequence, lesson plans, and resources can be found at https://blmweekd65.weebly.com/. Please take the time to engage with the lessons that have been created.   Also, please note that (for grades Pre-K - 2nd) materials have been translated into Spanish and the differentiation of lessons has been completed for our students with special needs.  

In December, lessons and materials were shared with principals, District Equity Leadership Team (DELT), the DEC board, and Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC) and with representatives from the PTA Council, African American, Black and Caribbean Family Group (ABC), Black Parents of King Arts, Next Steps, and Asociación de Familias Hispanas District 65 (AFHD65).

This week is part of a national movement to organize for racial justice in our schools. More information, including the demands of the week and a petition to endorse, can be found at blacklivesmatteratschool.com

If you have questions, please connect with:

Your school administrators,

Members of the Black Lives Matter at School planning team with the email blm65@district65.net, and/or 

Joaquin Stephenson, Director of Equity & Family/Community Engagement

We look forward to participating and collaborating in this week of action on behalf of District 65 students. 

In Solidarity,

Meg Krulee, District Educators’ Council President

Dr. Heidi Wennstrom, Interim Superintendent

Dr. Phil Ehrhardt, Interim Superintendent