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Lower Merion School District

Off-Canvas

Penn Wynne 4th Grade Class Learns About Various Winter Holiday Traditions

Students in Ms. Kate Rafferty's class hosted guests during the week before winter break, who shared their family's winter holiday traditions. 

Among them were Dr. Shawanna James-Coles, LMSD Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Ms. Amy Buckman, Director of School and Community Relations, who shared information about how they celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. Students' parents and guardians were also invited on different days to share their traditions, including celebrating Lunar New Year.

During her presentation, Dr. James-Coles told students how her family always gets matching pajamas on Christmas Eve and how their family tree is decorated with ornaments that have special meaning to each of them representing various years of their lives. 

Ms. Buckman shared a short version of the Hanukkah story, explaining the dreidl game and why candles are lit for eight nights. 

The students excitedly shared how some of their own families' traditions were similar to the ones they were hearing about. Then, the students took turns filling and decorating their own ornaments and playing the dreidl game.

One student who doesn't celebrate Christmas told Dr. James-Coles she was looking forward to giving the ornament she made to a friend who celebrates the holiday and has a tree. Another student, who had never played with a dreidl before, proudly showed off his newly acquired spinning skills. 

Allowing children to share in one another's traditions is one of the ways LMSD celebrates diversity and builds a sense of belonging. 

For some photos from the morning's activities, please click through the slide show below. 

Dr. james-Coles shares her family's holiday traditions with students.
Dr. James-Coles holds up an ornament from her family's collection
Students sit on the floor and listen as Dr. James-Coles shares her family traditions.
A staff member helps students as they decorate ornaments.
Four students on the floor playing the dreidl game
Students at desks decorating ornaments
Students at their desks practice spinning dreidls
A student uses paint markers to decorate her ornament.
Two students play the dreidl game
A group photo of students holding up their dreidls and ornaments with Ms. Buckman and Dr. James-Coles

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