Civil Rights Team Update

Laura Mike, Co-Civil Rights Team leader with Bruce Brann, provided this inspiring update about the team's recent work:

Ellie Zimmerman, Tyler Roderick, Colby Peacock, Diva Santana, Ellie Balsam, Rose Jokiel

The HMS Civil Rights Team was invited by Brandon Baldwin (Director of the Maine Civil Rights Team Project, Maine Attorney General's Office) to be part of the a "Spotlight" workshop at the Civil Rights Team State Conference in Augusta on May 23rd. Teams from across the state were asked to share one activity that they did during the 2015-16 school year that got people thinking and talking about race, nation of origin, gender (including gender identity and expression), religion, mental/physical disabilities, sexual orientation and skin color. 

The HMS Civil Rights Team spotlighted their Calendar of Religious Holidays.  Throughout the year, religious holidays for each month were highlighted on a calendar, which was hung in the main hall of HMS, with the religion noted and a description of the holiday.  Religions that were represented were:  Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Confucian, Druid, Eastern Orthodox Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Pagan, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Sikh, Taoist and Wiccan. The team's goal was to bring awareness to the religions of the world and to educate our school community on the many different holidays that are celebrated.  

Calendar of major religious holidays

 The HMS Civil Rights Team members who presented were (listed alphabetically):  Ellie Balsam (grade 5), Rose Jokiel (grade 7), Colby Peacock (grade 5), Diva Santana (grade 5) and Ellie Zimmerman (grade 7).