Celebrating Pride Month at Maple Tree: June 2023

 Celebrating Pride Month: June 2023

Our school is looking a little different this month, we are celebrating Pride Month. At Maple Tree, we believe in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all children and families. Pride Month provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate diversity and teach young minds about love, acceptance, and equality. Celebrating Pride offers a chance to introduce children to the concept of diverse family structures, love in all forms and the significance of embracing differences. When we embrace Pride Month with the children we empower them to become compassionate and inclusive individuals. 

Rainbow Art in the Classroom 

                                                    

The rainbow Pride Flag designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978 represents a symbol of LGBTQ2+ pride and visibility. Each colour has significance:

Red: The vibrant and passionate life of the LGBTQ2+ community.

Orange: Healing, acknowledges the struggles and challenged faces by people in the community. 

Yellow: Sunlight, happiness joy and positive energy that comes from living as your authentic self. 

Green: Nature, growth, harmony and a hope for a better future for individuals in the LGBTQ2+ community.

Blue:  Symbolizes serenity, peace and calmness. 

Violet: Spirit and diverse identities within the community, including the ones who identify as queer, non binary or gender non-conforming. 

When we include the Rainbow in our art projects, children are asking us "Why are we making this sign?" and "Why is it a rainbow?". This opens up great conversations with the children about the purpose behind pride month. 

Books That Celebrate Diversity and Pride 

Why is it important to have a diverse library of children's literature at home and school?

Children's literature that include diverse families or queer characters not only reflect the reality of the world we live in but also provide valuable lessons in empathy, acceptance and love. Books that represent these families and people validate experience of LGBTQ2+ children and families, making them feel seen and accepted. Moreover, they introduce families to different family structures and show them love has no boundaries. This kind of literature challenges harmful stereotypes and prejudices by representing members of the LGBTQ2+ community in a positive light and show that everyone deserves love, respect and acceptance. They provide an opportunity to educate children about the importance of equality and fairness. 

When we celebrate Pride at Maple Tree, we lay the foundation for a future generation that is inclusive, compassionate, and champions of equality for all . Let us continue to create spaces where every child can be proud of who they are, where their uniqueness is celebrated, and where love and acceptance flourish. 

Happy Pride Month from all of us at Maple Tree.