Diversity and inclusion education is often associated with high school and college students, but Oswego’s elementary schools are proving that even the youngest members of our community can take part in these conversations.
Whether it be Long Beach, Boulder Hill, or Old Post, both staff and students are dedicating time and money to ensure that everyone feels welcome in their schools.
“Students at the elementary level love to include others. They enjoy learning and are very open-minded,” said Long Beach Diversity Club sponsor Maura Vivona. “We have a diverse student body, therefore it is important to acknowledge and celebrate the cultures in our school and beyond.”
These clubs hold multiple events, projects, and service opportunities to encourage elementary students to be inclusive of all their peers. These students are proving that people are never too young to love and accept their peers.
The Old Post cultural bulletin board is displayed at the entrance to the school, showing all students that they are seen, heard, and welcomed into the school community. Credit: Stephen Balhan
“The [Boulder Hill Diversity Club] has helped with multicultural nights at Boulder Hill, we have attended and then participated in AMPLIFY all three years, last year we attended a board meeting at the public library to advocate for books and librarians, and we have created learning posters for the school,” said Boulder Hill Diversity Club Sponsor and Equity Teacher on Special Assignment Maryam Osuch.
“Right when you walk into [Old Post] they have this big board where they have a whole bunch of students fill out where their family is from and their favorite cultural foods,” said OH senior and Oswego Park District Employee at Old Post Stephen Balhan. “It’s about understanding your culture and sharing it with the school community.”
It is no secret that our district is becoming increasingly diverse. According to the Illinois School Report Card, OH students of Hispanic descent are now more than 30.1% of the population, from 20.3% in 2018. Additionally, the percentage of Black and Asian students has also increased in recent years.
“When I was in elementary school, none of this stuff was ever talked about and none of these clubs existed,” said Balhan, “just the fact that they exist now is a great first step.”
“Sometimes diversity is looked at as something negative, but our differences are what makes us unique,” said Boulder Hill Diversity Club Sponsor Elizabeth Medina. “By learning what diversity means, it allows us to make connections with people that we may not usually talk to.”
Because of all this growing diversity, many elementary schools have started programs and clubs to help these different racial groups feel included. From displaying different Latin American flags at Old Post to the first Multicultural Night hosted this year at Long Beach, efforts are being made by both staff and students to make the district a more welcoming place.
“[At] Multicultural Night we have created skits and posters educating people on the meaning of diversity,” said Medina. “The Diversity programs … help elementary students build leadership and advocacy skills they will need in high school and later in life. We hope to build empathy and cultural awareness in our students while also encouraging their confidence and self-expression.”
“We put on plays and skits about how being different is good,” said Boulder Hill 5th grade student Tyler Bauer. “We also do a Multicultural Night where people make up stands [with information about] different places and they give out cultural food.”
Diversity education is not just about showing our differences, but also understanding each other’s unique points of view so we can better connect and collaborate with them. Understanding differences helps people, especially younger elementary students, unify with others and work towards the common goal of acceptance and love for all.
“I hope our students learn to accept each other, to show genuine interest in cultures different than their own, to see the world through someone else’s point of view,” said Vivona. “This will help them as they grow to make friends outside of their culture, and have a more educated opinion about the world.”
These elementary programs aren’t just for the students either, as their presentations and projects help adults in the district understand the importance of positive messaging in the community.
“If I had any advice for the elementary schoolers, it would be to get involved and show the adults in the district how important diversity education is to [them],” said Balhan. “For some students, it is hard to not see many others who look like them, and this is a way to spread awareness that even though we are all different we have similarities.”
For any Oswego community members curious about how diversity and inclusion are supported at the district administration level, they can learn more about the Equity and Engagement Department through their district website.
“There is a lot of discrimination in the world based on race and ethnicity,” said Thompson 6th grade student Alexi Bormann. “You should always treat people with kindness, no matter how different they are.”
My name is Sasha Pankuch and I am a junior here at OHS. This is my first year with 42Fifty too. I am very involved here at OHS; I am on the board of Student Council, I play the saxophone in the Panther Marching Band, and am a member of multiple honors societies!
