P-R-I-D-E. PRIDE!

June is Pride Month, and the lower school is showing its true (rainbow) colors. The Longobardi, Emily, and Mott Rooms have been studying activism in social studies, and they are wrapping up the year by learning about the LGBTQIA+ movement. This week on June 1 – the first day of Pride Month – these young activists organized a Pride March in the neighborhood for the lower school. Teachers prepared their classes for the march with read alouds and fun activities. The students wore rainbow colors and carried Pride posters they made themselves. Faculty, staff, and students walked around the block chanting “Give me a P! Give me an R! Give me an I! Give me a D! Give me an E! What does that spell? PRIDE!” and “Love is love! Love is love!”

Alyssa Postman Putzel, one of the many teachers who organized the event, said, “We’ve been trying to show the students that there are many different ways to take action when they see injustice. This year, they have written letters to lawmakers, raised money for nonprofits, and now led a march. Even before we told the students that we were planning to invite the whole lower school, one Emily Room student excitedly suggested that we include all lower school students to spread the message about LGBTQIA+ equality. It’s exciting to see them not only becoming activists themselves, but encouraging others to do the same.”