SRES Celebrates Native American Recognition Days (1)

SRES Celebrates Native American Recognition Days
Posted on 11/16/2018
This is the image for the news article titled SRES Celebrates Native American Recognition DaysAt Salt River Elementary School, we place the highest priority ensuring students receive a well-rounded education, which means not only providing core curriculum, but also teaching important lessons that no standard can ever hope to capture in an assessment. 

O'odham and Piipaash language and culture are taught to students every day at SRES, but for a few days every mid-November, students and staff are treated to a special celebration of Indigeneity through Native American Recognition Days. The school (including the old Day School) has celebrated NARD consistently since 1996.

This year, NARD was celebrated across Salt River Schools Nov. 13-16.

At SRES, the opening celebration was led with song and dance and even SRPMIC President Delbert Ray came by to wish the school happy NARD. Throughout the week, visitors, including teachers and staff, gave special presentations to students about their specific Indigenous backgrounds, including O'odham, Piipaash, Apache, Diné, Pueblo, Hawaiian, Lakota, Comanche, and more. There were stories, activities, and students and staff were encouraged to wear their traditional clothing with pride. The closing ceremonies included tons of Indigenous performances, including a traditional Ho-Chunk dance, men's fancy dance, and hoop dancing, among many others.

NARD isn't over yet. SRES students invite their families to participate in the NARD Fun Run Nov. 21 from 8:30-10 a.m. Then, head over to the Early Childhood Education Center for its annual Social Gathering (also on Nov. 21) from 10-11:30 a.m., which is open to ECEC families and SRPMIC/SRS staff; all students and visitors are encouraged to wear their traditional clothing and join in social songs and dance.

A Ho-Chunk dancer who attends ASU celebrates NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
Celebrating NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
5th grader La'Zensiah Vest hoop dances during NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
Mr. Indian SCC hoop dances at NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
A men's fancy dancer performs during NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
An Apache dancer performs during NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
Hopi dancers perform during NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
Salt River Schools staff and performers after the NARD celebrations at Salt River Elementary School.
SRES students made animal masks in class and learned to say the animal names in Piipaash. From left to right: Mackenzie Renteria- Kapet (Tortoise), Alisha Dan- Xmnaap (Butterfly), Aubrey Smith- Xalythwe (Coyote), Michelle Carl- Mxweth (Bear), Samira Dockerty- Mxweth (Bear), Christian Holmes- Xshpaa (Eagle) , Duryus Burke- Xmnaap (Butterfly), Mario Vasquez- Xalythwe (Coyote), Micah Reyes- Xalythewe (Coyote). Photo by SRES ENLC teacher Hilary Richards.
SRPMIC President Delbert Ray gives the opening remarks to NARD at Salt River Elementary School.
NARD activities at Salt River Elementary School.
NARD activities at Salt River Elementary School.
NARD activities at Salt River Elementary School.
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