Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.  

Mrs. Crow is Peake's ESOL Interventionist. This month, she will be visiting the classrooms to educate our students on her job- how she works with students either from different countries or who speak or have family members who speak different languages.

While she is in each classroom, she will be reading Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thomppkins-Bigelow to students.

This book tells the story of a girl's frustration because her first day of school was full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name.  In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, Hispanic and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city.  Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return to school the next day to share her knowledge with her class.  Your Name is a Song is a celebration to remind all of us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names.

As we welcome the month of October, we are excited to introduce our Word of the Month: Self-Direct. This concept is all about encouraging our students to take initiative in their learning and personal growth. Self-direct means being responsible for one's actions, setting goals, and working independently towards achieving them.

Throughout October, we will focus on helping students understand the importance of self-direction. We will incorporate activities and discussions that promote setting personal goals, making thoughtful decisions, and taking ownership of their education. By fostering these skills, we aim to empower our students to become confident and proactive learners.

We encourage parents and guardians to reinforce these ideas at home by discussing the importance of self-direction with your children. Ask them about their goals and how they plan to achieve them. Celebrate their efforts and progress, no matter how small.

Warm regards, 

De'Shae Craig 

Christopher Golston

School Counselors