THS holds Diversity Week activities
THS holds Diversity Week activities
By: Bev Thompson and Kerri Esten
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Posted by editor Mon Nov 20, 2006 13:10:55 PST
Viewed 2212 times
0 responses 1 comment “I hate all girls named Janine, so if your name is Janine, I hate you.”
“But you've never even met me,” you say. “It's not fair to judge me based solely on my name. You don't know what I like, what I stand for. Nothing.”
Janine has a good point. See, I went to high school — not in Tehachapi — with a girl named Janine and she was mean. I realize that to say that I hate all girls named Janine because of one bad experience is a silly statement, but I use it to illustrate my own prejudice. We all have pre-judged someone in our lives based on some sort of criteria of our own: race, weight, gender, religious affiliation, you name it.
To get past our prejudices, however silly, we need to first be aware of them. I'm aware of my bias against all girls named Janine, and as an adult I no longer act upon it. I accept the diversity among the Janines of the world, and I celebrate them.
The students and staff at Tehachapi High School enjoyed a successful Diversity Awareness Week, Nov. 13 - 17. Students were greeted on Monday with posters and signs all over campus to encourage positive behaviors and acts of kindness. Red cups spelled out “THS - Come Together” on the fence to announce the theme of the week.
Twenty 9th grade classes participated in activities to start them thinking about the effects of stereotyping and prejudice. Some groups wrote stories about their own “lemon friend” during the Lemon Activity while others talked about the pressures of what it means to be a “real man” or “good girl” by society's standards.
In Concentric Circles, students had the opportunity to talk to classmates whom they spent time with in class each day but really didn't know, and in Circle Break-In they experienced in a fun way the challenges of fitting in at school.
On Tuesday, Cody Burch, with Rachel's Challenge told the story of Rachel Joy Scott, the first person killed in the Columbine High School shootings. Rachel's incredible story inspired students and staff to start a chain reaction of kindness at our school and in the community. Teachers and guests said that the presentation was the best assembly they had ever attended at a high school. Students were moved to accept the challenge by signing the banner in the cafeteria, “I Accept Rachel's Challenge.”
That night students and parents attended an equally moving repeat performance. On Wednesday many students made paper chains of their pledges to make a positive change at Tehachapi High School. For more information about Rachel Scott and Rachel's Challenge, go to www.RachelsChallenge.com.
During lunch on Tuesday, over 150 students gathered in various groups to Mix It Up at Lunch which was celebrated in schools throughout the nation at the same time. Students had fun playing games designed especially for that day and introduced themselves to new people before sharing cookies and other homemade treats.
Entries to the writing and art contests produced some great student insights on what Diversity means and what is needed for THS to come together. Thanks to donations from Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, as well as Quiznos, Baskin Robbins, and Kmart, first through third place awards and honorable mention went to:
Art: 1st Place, Jessica Dunn, 2nd, Casey Upton, 3rd, Matthew Halpin. Honorable Mention: Breanna Gamble, Kendra Cook, Rachel Smith, Kinsey Burke, Monica Ordonez.
Essay:1st Place, Danika Guidotti, 2nd, Monica Ordonez, 3rd, Nicole Miller. Honorable Mention: John Michael Martinez, Samantha Cinquegrani, Rebecca Russell, Austin Podratz, Katie Tautkus.
Congratulations to all the winners! And thanks to all the students and staff for their pledges to make Tehachapi High School and Tehachapi a better place.
And if your name is Janine, rest assured. I don't hate you.
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Tue Nov 21, 2006 07:54:56 PST
ahhh, Fantastic article, good write Tehachapi News. YAY, Diversity!!!
