Educational Issues Committees Corner

Community, Engagement & Belonging

The Wood Acres PTA is sharing resources to support families in continuing conversations at home about kindness, inclusion, respect for others, and the impact of our words. These conversations help our children build empathy, navigate friendships, recognize hurtful behavior, and understand the importance of treating others with dignity and respect.

Resources from MCPS and MCCPTA

• Talking with your kids: A collection of resources for starting conversations about race and culture with your children, shared by the MCCPTA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee: Resources to Talk to Your Children about Race and Culture. More from the committee: mccpta.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

• Reading for parents: MCPS Equity Reading List: montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/clusteradmin/equity/readinglist

• Going deeper: The MCPS Department of Systemwide Equity shares resources, student and family stories, and contacts for each school cluster: montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/equity

• Need support? MCPS Community Engagement Coordinators can connect families with school and community resources: montgomeryschoolsmd.org/community-engagement/coordinators

• How to report a concern: If your child experiences or witnesses hurtful, biased or bullying behavior, you can tell any staff member or administrator, or submit a report online. Learn more about MCPS hate-bias reporting and bullying prevention and reporting.

Books to Explore

Wood Acres parents have shared books that can help families explore race, identity, belonging, empathy and kindness: 

• All the Colors We Are by Katie Kissinger (bilingual English/Spanish)

• Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

• Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho

• Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq

• I Color Myself Different by Colin Kaepernick

• Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis with Traci Sorell (novel, grades 3–5)

• Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli and Isabel Roxas

• Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez (chapter book)

• The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

• The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

• The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

• Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy by Tony Medina

• When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson

Family Outings

Looking for ways to explore culture, identity and belonging together? Here are a few family-friendly ideas for the weeks ahead:

• Celebrate Diwali at Connie Morella Library, Bethesda (Saturday, October 24, 1–4 p.m.): Drop in to celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights with stories, crafts, cultural performances and snacks.

• Beatrice Likes the Dark at Adventure Theatre, Glen Echo Park (through November 1): A magical show with music and shadow play about curiosity, courage, and how communities shine brightest when every voice belongs. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

• Día de los Muertos with 123 Andrés at Rockville Memorial Library (Sunday, November 1, 10:15–11:30 a.m.): Bilingual stories followed by music and dancing with the Latin Grammy-winning duo 123 Andrés.

• NMAAHC Kids Book Day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (Saturday, November 14, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.): Art projects, games and hands-on activities celebrating the things that make us the same and different, inspired by the museum’s new children’s book 123 I Like You and Me. For ages 4–8. 

Get Involved

Have a question, suggestion or recommendation, or want to help make Wood Acres a place where every child feels they belong? Our Community, Engagement & Belonging and Mental Health & Anti-Bullying committees would love your help. Please reach out to:

• VP Educational Issues: Vanessa d’Alançon 

• NAACP Representative: Kenda Kittrell Chavis