Rawlinson Community School has been a longstanding member of the Black Student Success and Excellence initiative. This year they focused on building positive racial identities of Black students and incorporating Black joy in the school environment. Four teachers were tasked with creating a meaningful and safe space for Black students and their allies to celebrate and promote Black Heritage, and to support student achievement and well-being. This space was called The Black Joy and Excellence Club. It has served as a rich environment to promote Black heritage, Black excellence and achievements. Through this space, students were also provided with opportunities such as organizing and leading Rawlinson’s first-ever Black History Assembly, and community initiatives by writing a letter to the Director of Education to have the Pan-African flag raised during the month of February. The Black Joy and Excellence Club has instilled a sense of community and joy for Rawlinson students who are proud to show up every week to strengthen intergenerational connections and reinforce the cultural values/knowledge that are integral to their collective identity.
Rawlinson CS has also been focusing on parent and caregiver engagement. Teachers have been reaching out to parents to support them as their child’s first educator, and empower them to share their voices and experiences in the curriculum.
Rawlinson Community School inquiry questions: What conditions support building positive racial identities of Black students, and Black joy in academic programming and all programs? Who is writing the narrative of Black students?