Superintendent’s Blog: Unity in Diversity

Dear BSD Community, 

October is typically a busy month in the world of education. With the excitement of the first couple of weeks of school behind us, teachers and students are deep into their routines, kindergarteners are learning their letters, juniors are taking the PSAT, and PTSAs are planning fall festivals.   

Celebrating Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month  

Bellevue celebrated Fiesta del Maíz (Corn Festival) this past Saturday at Crossroads Park. It was a great event that included Danza Azteca, a traditional cultural dance with roots in Central America and Mexico, and crafts and food booths.   

Then, this week, we were honored by the Spanish Ministry of Education alongside our longtime BSD friend, Luis Fernando Esteban, Honorary Consul of Spain, as they formally recognized and honored our four dual language schools as part of the International Spanish Academy (ISA) network. We now have eight ISA-designated schools (Puesta del Sol, Lake Hills, Stevenson, Sherwood Forest, Tillicum, Highland, Sammamish, and Newport). All students in our Spanish dual language immersion programs will be able to receive the ISA diploma as well as the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation.  

To honor our teachers and expand their global language learning, Luis Fernando Esteban shared with me that he has secured sponsorships to send 10 BSD teachers to Spain this summer for a two-week, immersive global learning experience. This past summer, five teachers took advantage of this experience! We'll be sharing more information about this opportunity with teachers soon.  

Finally, we're proud to celebrate the richness and diversity of our Spanish-speaking community here in Bellevue. In a future Voices of Bellevue podcast episode, I'll talk with Abraham Luna, an educator at Highland Middle School who teaches mariachi music to students there. We have staff, students, and families from countries like Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Venezuela, and Peru. We'll celebrate our diverse Spanish-speaking community at Celebración de la Diversidad del idioma Español on October 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Highland Middle School! There will be music, food, activities, and guest appearances by consuls from different countries, as well as the Vice-Minister of Cultural Action and Commission for the Spanish Language. All are invited!  

Unity in Diversity  

Bellevue is made up of students, families, and staff from so many different cultures and countries, and everyone belongs here in the BSD. Please join me in celebrating the rich diversity in our schools! Unity Day is next Wednesday, October 16. We'll be joining districts around the country to celebrate. Let's all wear orange and take a moment to reflect on and recommit to the power of unity in our diversity. 

For Our Future World, 

Dr. Aramaki