LCPS Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee - MSAAC

07/03/2020

Loudoun’s Black History Matters

"No one experiences a place in the same way. We perceive a place through our own history and relationship to that place, including our racial and cultural experiences and those of our ancestors. That is why, when it comes to learning African American history and bridging divides, we have a lot of gaps to fill in.

And that is why the Blue Ridge Leader is dedicating this and our next two issues to Loudoun County’s black history with the aim of shedding light on our community today. We hope you will use the information, links, and stories here as jumping off points for conversations in your classrooms, churches, and civic groups. This information comes primarily from the works and website of the Friends of Thomas Balch Library’s Black History Committee."

https://blueridgeleader.com/loudouns-black-history-matters/

Learning about the past helps us understand the present By Laura Longley “It’s always a question of education.” L. Douglas Wilder, the nation’s first elected black governor and former mayor of Rich…

06/29/2020

LCPS-TV/ Webcast / Live Webcast

Tune into the school board meeting tonight. There are over 50 public comments tonight discussing the Loudoun County High School mascot and/or the action plan for systemic racism.

https://www.lcps.org/Page/140009

Search all LCPS sites OR focus search using the radio buttons below. Click the Search Tips link for how to enhance search experience.Search Tips

06/23/2020

BoardDocs® Agenda Item: 7.05 Office of the Superintendent: LCPS Action Plans to Combat Systemic Racism

What are your thoughts on LCPS Plans to Combat Systemic Racism?

LCPS to discuss at the 6/23 School Board Meeting, which begins at 4:00pm
http://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BQLQ4R6641D5

School Board member Ian Serotkin asked the Superintendent and Chief of Staff to identify immediate actions that the Loudoun County School Board (LCSB) and Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Administration can take to combat systemic racism in LCPS. The LCSB will discuss the draft plan presented by...

06/20/2020

We are so proud of this amazing group of LCPS Alumni, who are taking their experiences as students of color in LCPS to mentor current students navigating the LCPS landscape. Thank you for reaching out to MSAAC to offer new ways to engage with students in our community. #BeTheChange #Grassroots #CommunityLeadership #MakingADifference

Please reach out to us if you're interested in joining the team as a mentor or potential mentee! Also feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns.

06/17/2020

LCPS Special Education Advisory Committee

Please complete and/or share this 2019-2020 SEAC Parent/Guardian Survey.

2019-2020 Annual SEAC Parent/Guardian Survey.

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) uses the survey information to guide our work, presentations and to identify areas of need for the SEAC Annual Report to the LCPS School Board.

Please take a moment to complete the annual SEAC Survey, it is available in English and Spanish. Please share with other families, the special education community's voice is very important to us, we need to hear from you!

https://surveyhero.com/c/SEACsurvey2019-2020

06/17/2020

💥Deadline to apply is THIS Friday, June 19 at https://www.loudounchamber.org/yea/

06/12/2020

Timeline Photos

06/11/2020

The Discomfort of White Adults Should Never Take Priority Over the Success of Our Black and Brown Students

https://educationpost.org/the-discomfort-of-white-adults-should-never-take-priority-over-the-success-of-our-black-and-brown-students/?utm_campaign=EP&utm_content=1559757732&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&fbclid=IwAR1mz8XfCKG69Dvwo7w-rp9lHezVcgvwbaxrz-VslnhmTFHeuXrpd2Sm2QI

“I didn’t come here to teach those kinds of kids.” It’s alarming to think that adults charged with helping students of color succeed in school

06/11/2020

We have extended the deadline to declare your candidacy for one of the elected positions to Friday, June 12, by noon. Please email your resume and a one-page letter of intent to Natalia Beardslee at [email protected].

06/09/2020

Talking to Children About Race and Racism | PBS KIDS for Parents

Children are never too young to learn about diversity. As young as 3 months old, they may look differently @ people who look like or don’t look like their primary caregivers. As parents & caregivers,we must have confidence in ourselves & in our children — that we, and they, can handle tough topics and tough situations. We must understand that our role is to be honest, specific, and trustworthy as we raise the next generation to confront racial injustice.

https://www.pbs.org/parents/talking-about-racism?fbclid=IwAR2ndf32MxuS9JxYH9c4y5MsrBOzXWjdhxRvx8lTFcJqPi6L3VTS7wTr6j8

Join parents, educators and experts in this live event for an important conversation on how to talk with young children about racial injustice and violence against Black people.

06/08/2020

LGBTQ Pride Month and Education Resources

Excellent educational resources for LGBTQ Pride Month.
https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/lgbtq-pride-month-and-education-resources

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month (LGBTQ Pride Month) is celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City.

06/07/2020

158 Resources for Understanding Systemic Racism in America

An excellent compilation of resources to educate yourself and your family.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/158-resources-understanding-systemic-racism-america-180975029/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia

These articles, videos, podcasts and websites from the Smithsonian chronicle the history of anti-black violence and inequality in the United States

06/05/2020

Dear MSAAC Family and Friends,

Our heartfelt condolences to the family of Delroy Thomas and Loudoun NAACP President, Pastor Michelle Thomas, on the passing of their 16-year-old son. We mourn as a community.

06/03/2020

Anguish and Action

Former President Barack Obama is addressing the nation this afternoon in a town hall, NOW. He is joined by his former Attorney General, Eric Holder, police reform activists and other public figures. https://www.obama.org/anguish-and-action/

We work to help leaders change their world—and the world needs changing. The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the loss of far too many Black lives to list, have left our nation heartbroken and outraged. Find ways you can meet anguish with action.

06/03/2020

MSAAC - May 2020 (1).pdf

If you were able to catch last week's meeting or not, take a look out MSAAC's month of May's charts!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lMol8yl7HodhmpaYp76Jar_eiuGGHH8M/view?usp=sharing

06/03/2020

Dear MSAAC Delegates, Alternates, Members and Friends:

Nearly 1,000 of our Loudoun County neighbors marched side by side in downtown Leesburg on Sunday in a show of support and solidarity. We all want justice to be served and to break down institutional racism from the national level to our local community level. We appreciate the words of comfort for the LCPS families and community members that were shared in a letter by Superintendent Williams. Now many are grappling with how they can do more. Our thoughts are with you as you navigate your way through this period of our lives. It is times like this that we must amplify our focus on our children and their future.

The Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC) is searching for leaders to further the MSAAC mission in the 2020/2021 school year. Please seriously consider running for one of the three elected positions on the Executive Board to build a school system that is culturally and socially competent; positioned to provide fair and equitable learning experiences for all students; and dedicated to partnering with Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), parents and the community to acknowledge and promote the needs of minority students.

There are 3 “elected” positions open on the Executive Board:

Chairperson - Presides at all meetings of MSAAC and shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees. They will represent the committee in all matters of business or appoint a member of the Executive Committee to do so as needed.
Vice Chairperson - Presides at all meetings of the committee in the absence of the Chairman and shall serve as chairman of the Programs Committee.
Secretary - Tasked with recording and maintaining the Minutes of all meetings of MSAAC as well as be the principal record keeper of the committee.
To declare your candidacy for one of the elected positions please email your resume and a one-page letter of intent to Natalia Beardslee at [email protected]. The deadline to declare your candidacy is noon, June 10th. Candidates will be presented at a ‘Special’ MSAAC General Membership meeting in June and asked at that time to give a 2-minute speech. Elections will be conducted at the end of the ‘special’ meeting on June 17.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and support. Please share this message with your PTO/PTA and community via social media and word of mouth. Continue to be safe and well.

Sincerely,

The MSAAC Nominating Committee

06/01/2020

George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. What do we tell our children?

"....experts in child psychology and race-based stress say these conversations are essential for all parents to have, and they underscore that there are developmentally appropriate ways to talk to children of all ages about racism and police brutality."
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"Racism persists, experts say, because many parents avoid difficult conversations."

Experts in child psychology explain how parents can begin conversations about racial violence and answer some of kids' most painful questions.

05/28/2020

Join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2019-2020 MSAAC Awards. These individuals have enhanced our mission of celebrating diversity and advancing equity in LCPS. There was a Wendell T. Fisher Award for Administration and Teachers/Licensed Staff, Student Award for a high school and middle school student and a new award category this year is the MSAAC Delegate Award.

Join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2019-2020 MSAAC Awards. These individuals have enhanced our mission of celebrating diversity and advancing equity in LCPS. There was a Wendell T. Fisher Award for Administration and Teachers/Licensed Staff, Student Award for a high school and middle school student and a new award category this year is the MSAAC Delegate Award.

05/27/2020

LCPS-TV/ Webcast / Live Webcast

Updated video line! https://www.lcps.org/Page/140009

Search all LCPS sites OR focus search using the radio buttons below. Click the Search Tips link for how to enhance search experience.Search Tips

05/27/2020

LCPS-TV/ Webcast / Overview

You can watch tonight's meeting via the LCPS TV Livestream at WWW.LCPS.ORG/LCPSTV

Search all LCPS sites OR focus search using the radio buttons below. Click the Search Tips link for how to enhance search experience.Search Tips

05/27/2020

LCPS-TV/ Webcast / Overview

We look forward to the May MSAAC General Body Meeting to be held virtually on Wednesday, May 27 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm EST.

Our featured speaker is Dr. Paul Gorski, founder of the Equity Literacy Institute and LCPS Park View Alumni. You can review his biography and literature at EquityLiteracy.org. In addition, check out their FREE self-paced online mini-courses on educational equity.

We will also be announcing our 2019-2020 MSAAC Award Winners!

Lastly, you will receive an update from our nominating committee on the nomination and election process for the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year.

To participate in the live Q&A chat with Mr. Gorski during the meeting, please register using the following link, https://mylcps.webex.com/mw3300/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=mylcps&service=6&rnd=0.9917025399823415&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmylcps.webex.com%2Fec3300%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26%26%26EMK%3D4832534b000000042b1f2170c3235114772cb605cb823680ec75e4eaf489ccc44708e4faeba7caca%26siteurl%3Dmylcps%26confViewID%3D161308917214749622%26encryptTicket%3DSDJTSwAAAAQIeSZDHtnJ8MvLDRJoAHbBCnNGcC5heumzUr6U_3hjPA2%26. Otherwise, you can watch the meeting via the LCPS TV Livestream at WWW.LCPS.ORG/LCPSTV

Search all LCPS sites OR focus search using the radio buttons below. Click the Search Tips link for how to enhance search experience.Search Tips

05/26/2020

REMINDER: Join us for the the May MSAAC meeting TOMORROW, Wednesday, May 27, 2020 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm with special guest speaker Paul Gorski

05/23/2020

We Need Diverse Books

Go beyond the book with authors S. K. Ali and Aisha saeed as they discuss their anthology, Once Upon an Eid, with esteemed librarians Mahasin Aleem and Ariana Hussain. In this heartfelt and touching conversation from Abrams Kids, they talk about what it means to see yourself in media, why this book should be read all year long, and how the world of Wakanda is like Eid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTcRZcaLH74

05/20/2020

The May MSAAC meeting has been rescheduled for NEXT Wednesday, May 27, 2020 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm with Paul Gorski.

05/19/2020

The May MSAAC Meeting has been POSTPONED to the following week, date TBD. We recommend that everyone view the State of the County Address to be delivered by Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall at 6:00pm.

05/13/2020

X-STEM All Access | USASEF

"Shattering STEM Stereotypes" TODAY at 1:00pm EST.

Speaker lineup includes Dr. Fauci as a special guest on Monday.
https://usasciencefestival.org/x-stem-all-access/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Spread%20the%20news%21%20&utm_campaign=Newsletter%20Emma

X-STEM All Access – presented by AstraZeneca – is an entertaining, educational, and interactive online STEM experience for 6-12th graders. Through a series of daily livestream events, students will hear from an exclusive group of visionaries who aim to inspire kids about careers in science, tech...

05/01/2020

NOVA to Offer ‘JumpStart’ Tuition-Free Summer Online Courses for Region’s High School Students :: Northern Virginia Community College

📣📣 Loudoun Juniors and Seniors📣📣
FREE Online 💻 College Courses

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is using institutional dollars from the Federal stimulus to launch a new summer schedule of tuition-free online classes for approximately 70,000 qualified Northern Virginia high school students. This is an opportunity for rising seniors through graduating seniors to JumpStart their summers and earn college credit by attending up to two online courses that will run from June 1 to July 15.

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is using institutional dollars from the Federal stimulus to launch a new summer schedule of tuition-free online classes for approximately 70,000 qualified Northern Virginia high school students. This is an opportunity for rising seniors through graduating s...

04/29/2020

MSAAC Online Event: Advancing Equity During VA School Closure

MSAAC is proud to host guest speaker, Leah Dozier Walker, of the VA Dept. of Education, Office of Equity and Community Engagement. Topic: Advancing Equity During VA School Closures

04/29/2020

MSAAC is proud to host guest speaker, Leah Dozier Walker, of the VA Dept. of Education, Office of Equity and Community Engagement. Topic: Advancing Equity During VA School Closures

04/01/2020

COVID-19 Webinars - Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain

LCPS Teachers, if you are looking for professional development, here are two webinars with an equity focus from Zaretta Hammond. https://crtandthebrain.com/covid19-webinars/ #LCPSEquityImprint

Free Covid-19 Webinars

03/19/2020

Deadline Extended! We know our teachers and administrators are working furiously around the clock to prepare distance learning, and some of us have unexpected free time. So, we've extended the due date for MSAAC Award nominations until March 27. Make a nomination today!

03/14/2020

Children's Africana Book Awards Festival. Saturday, March 28. 11 am - 2 pm. Meet the authors and illustrators. Art activities. Face painting. Free and Open to the Public.

03/12/2020

Public Information Office / COVID-19 FAQs

Due to the LCPS school closure until March 20, the March 18 MSAAC meeting is also canceled. For more information on the LCPS school closure, visit https://www.lcps.org/Page/227421. Thank you for your understanding.

COVID-19 (Corona Virus) Preparedness at Loudoun County Public Schools.

03/12/2020

Schools are closed today. Visit LCPS.org for more information.

03/09/2020

Voting Rights History Teach-In at Howard University, Saturday March 28.
https://www.dcareaeducators4socialjustice.org/events/voting-history-teach-in