Cultural+Diversity

=﻿ Cultural Diversity = =﻿Diversidad Cultural= === Here at Saint Bridget's Elementary, our first priority is to make every child feel welcome and safe. We strive to create diversity in the classroom to allow more learning opportunities and brilliant minds to shine through. === ===Different cultures and view points are greatly cherished here at Saint Bridget's. We respect and value different cultures and ideas, and use these diversities to benefit everyone. === ===Cultural competence is something required of every staff member at Saint Bridget's Elementary. No culture, religion, race, or person is superior to the other. Diversity is above all else, greatly respected. The greatest thing we can give to our students is respect, understanding, and knowledge of diversity. As a school community, we are proactive in creating a fun, safe, and multicultural environment where everyone has a voice. Our diversity allows different perspectives, multiple learning strategies, and enjoyment. ===

[[image:http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_images_n300/group_diverse_kids_holding_hands_around_an_australian_globe.jpg align="right"]]
=== Here in Saint Bridget's we believe that students should have the best possible learning environment. We offer our English as a second language learners a great program to get them involved in school with the help and guidance through their native language, while slowly incorporating English into their vocabulary. Saint Bridget's offers an ESL program to improve all children who have another language besides English as their first language. These students spend the day with a language translator, but also have the opportunity to learn and interact with different cultures and students from other classes. The program will not take their opportunity to grow or develop relationship or to get the best learning. Throughout the day students will be trying to understand and learn English, which can be overwhelming for any child! When not working on many of the things the program offers, you will spend time with other students in the program while being incorporated into regular classroom activities with other students, or learning through audio. ===

=== Diversity is an important aspect of our education here at Saint Bridget's Elementary School. We strive for equality, respect and support for all students regardless of what language they speak. Here's a song that a group of girls from Saint Bridget's sang at our talent show last year and a video. This video shows our knowledge, understanding, respect and love for all children we teach. ===

[|Saint Bridget's Girls of Diversity]media type="youtube" key="_BBEJYpumLU" height="390" width="480"
=== All teachers in our school district use these sites and access them frequently to help create new and unique activities in the classroom every day. These sites are all links to other sites for different models, methods and ideas for teaching a diverse classroom. These sites are used for different methods of teaching in a multicultural classroom. These sites allow teachers to help create a more efficient working environment and create more understanding in the classroom. ===

[|Cultural Diversity]
=== Attached is a link to an article that the staff of Saint Bridget's considered valuable. We discuss the issue of diversity in schools across America. With the continuous surge in a large number of religions, cultures and ethnicity , we consider this important article to discuss the need for diversity in the classroom, and the benefits it gives to each student. Take a look and leave your comments. ===

[|Diversity in the Classroom]
===Here is another article which the community of education teachers here at Saint Bridget's thought was very sad and disturbing. This article shows what people think about students who do not speak English in American classrooms. This article is NOT what we believe is right, here we are fighting for the right to keep diversity and learn from other cultures. Take a look at the bar graph to see how you would feel if you were from a different culture, or did not speak English. Place yourself in someone else's shoes. ===