Calendar Highlights - March
The Berkley Schools printed calendar highlights heritage months, holidays, days of observances and recognition days. In the Berkley Beat, we’ll highlight these days with more information for community learning to help us achieve the District goal of creating an environment where all staff, students and community members feel a sense of belonging.
Women’s History Month
Women's History Month is an annual observance to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and currently. Celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8.
In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women's History Project, Congress passed a bill designating the month of March 1987 as Women's History Month. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women's History Month.
Today, the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history through a Women’s History Month website.
Learn more about Women’s History Month on the following sites:
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American Women: A guide to Women's History Resources at the Library of Congress A major new online research guide highlights hundreds of sources that tell the stories of women through a wide variety of perspectives and media in the Library of Congress collections.
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is observed in March in the U.S. NationalToday.com shares, “The campaign seeks to raise awareness about including people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life. It also creates awareness of the difficulties that people with disabilities still face in fitting into the communities in which they live.”
Here are resources to learn more about National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, as well as resources to learn more about disabilities and equity.
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Visit the NationalToday website to learn more.
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The Arc Michigan - The mission of The Arc Michigan is to ensure that people with Developmental Disabilities are valued in order that they and their families can participate fully in and contribute to their community.
Ramadan
Ramadan, in Islam, is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. Because the Muslim calendar year is shorter than the Gregorian calendar year, Ramadan begins 10–12 days earlier each year, allowing it to fall in every season throughout a 33-year cycle.
Islamic tradition states that it was during Ramadan, on the “Night of Power” (Laylat al-Qadr)—commemorated on one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, usually the 27th night—that God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad the Qurʾān, Islam’s holy book, “as a guidance for the people.” For Muslims, Ramadan is a period of introspection, communal prayer (ṣalāt) in the mosque, and reading of the Qurʾān.
Source: Britannica
Here’s a helpful resource to learn more about the facts and traditions of Ramadan
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Visit the Britannica article about Ramadan to learn more
International Women’s Day - March 8
Wednesday, March 8 is International Women’s Day. International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. Learn more about International Women’s Day on their website.
St. Patrick’s Day - March 17
St. Patrick's Day was originally celebrated in Ireland with religious services and feasts in honor of St. Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints. Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, St. Patrick was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 CE to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Many legends grew up around him—for example, that he drove the snakes out of Ireland and used the shamrock to explain the Trinity. Ireland came to celebrate his day with religious services and feasts.
Source: Britannica
Today's Saint Patrick's Day celebrations have been greatly influenced by Irish people who live outside of Ireland, especially in North America. Until the late 20th century, Saint Patrick's Day was often a bigger celebration among those that had left Ireland, than it was in Ireland. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, Irish traditional music sessions, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.
Here’s a helpful resource to learn more about the history and celebrations of St.Patrick’s Day
Visit the Britannica article about St. Patrick's Day to learn more
