Walking through the halls in the last weeks of school tells a story in a way only walls can. The bulletin boards that line the walls create the pages in our yearbook, reminding us of projects, conversations and of the tiny moments that got us to summer.
We spent this year in masks, reacting to lists of banned books, saying GAY, protecting our trans kids, honoring changing pronouns, Covid testing on Fridays, learning how to support humans in war torn Ukraine, talking about global warming, researching famous Black Atlantans, digging into SEE learning and having hard conversations. We learned consonant blends, released trout into the south river, celebrated birthday circles, made care kits for unhoused humans, and built timelines of famous Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC).
We have spent 180 days together. In a time of chaos we tried to be steady, we made safe spaces, we discussed racism and how to be anti-racists. We practiced our cursive and learned our multiplication tables, had sewing circles where we discussed water protectors and how to advocate for marginalized communities. We have gathered on Friday mornings to sit in silence and hold in the light…ultimately holding each other.
Walking these halls at the end of this year there are stories of civil rights leaders, definitions of words associated with the topic of antisemitism, art reflecting stories and people from around the world and the moments that taught us more about ourselves than we knew 180 days ago.
by Sara Perez