Students completed a five-month-long project, a classroom community quilt, where they made their own quilt square that represented themselves, their family, and their community. (Photo Courtesy Hull Public Schools) 
Each student received two water droplets, one to educate other students at school and one to educate their caregivers at home (Photo Courtesy Hull Public Schools) 
Throughout the program, students learned about the three “R’s”, Recycle, Reduce and Reuse, and brainstormed ways to implement the three Rs in their everyday life. (Photo Courtesy Hull Public Schools)
HULL- Superintendent Judith Kuehn is pleased to share that Lillian M. Jacobs Elementary School and Memorial Middle School students participated in various Raising Multicultural Kids (RMK) programs throughout the school year.
Raising Multicultural Kids is an educational-based non-profit organization located in Southeastern Massachusetts focused on cultivating racial and cultural competence in local communities. Their mission is to provide individuals with a multicultural mindset, which celebrates differences and fosters the skills and tools necessary to take action on issues of equity.
Raising Multicultural Kids Advocacy in Action program at Hull Memorial Middle School
This year, Hull Memorial Middle School students learned about identity, built on their self-esteem and participated in various community activities through the Raising Multicultural Kids (RMK) Advocacy in Action program.
Advocacy in Action (AIA) provides a platform to develop youth voices by fostering an understanding of identity development and the value of community. Throughout the program, students gained a greater understanding of the self and of others while learning to appreciate differences.
Throughout the course of the program, students created artwork such as the identity Mandala and learned about symbolism and art. Students also had an opportunity to interview Co-President of Raising Multicultural Kids Kelly Lamb and Boston College professor Angela Clark about their past, present and future to understand how they overcame challenges in their youth and became who they are today.
At the end of the year, students created a committee of their own – the Department of Diversity and Inclusion Committee (D.D.I.C.). The group recognized mental health as a significant issue within their school community and their first action was to create Calm Boxes. The boxes were filled with various fidgets and calming tools, for all Memorial Middle School students which are used to help students independently self-regulate in the classroom and common areas.
The calm boxes can be used to help with anxiety, focus, grounding and much more. Teachers and students received a video presentation prior to the calm boxes rollout to provide the school community with the knowledge needed to best utilize the calm boxes for the 2023-2024 school year.
“I want to thank RMK President Kelly Lamb for providing our students with these opportunities throughout the school year,” said Principal Anthony Hrivnak. “I would also like to thank Memorial Middle School Social Work Intern Perla Castañeda for her continued efforts that made the integration of these programs so successful.”
Diversity In Classroom Leadership and Literature, and Littlest Inclusive Learners Programs at Jacobs Elementary
This year, Lillian M. Jacobs school students explored the depths of what it means to be stronger together through the RMK’s Diversity In Classroom Leadership program (Grades 1-5) and the Littlest Inclusive Learners Program (Grades PreK-K). The two programs inspired students and teachers through numerous true stories that explored persistence throughout problems and the transforming powers of a growth mindset that changes challenges into possibilities.
Throughout the course of the program, students and teachers celebrated their similarities and differences through their unique talents, traditions, families and cultures. Students reflected on the idea that when they value each other’s differences, they are stronger as a classroom, school and community.
One of the true stories that inspired RMK’s Diversity In Classroom Leadership and Literature mission for students to be advocates for change was “The Water Princess,” a book based on supermodel Georgie Badiel’s childhood.
DCLL or Grade 1-5 Students also learned about the three “R’s” – Recycle, Reduce and Reuse – and brainstormed ways to implement the three “R’s” in their everyday life. Each student received two paper water droplets, on which they wrote their three “R”’s, one to educate other students at school and one to educate their caregivers at home. They learned that through educating others, they can become advocates for clean water in their community. In honor of their hard work, RMK donated $100 to the Weirs Watershed Association.
PreK-K or Littlest Inclusive Learners Students also completed a five-month-long project, a classroom community quilt. Each student made their own quilt square that represented themselves, their family, and their community. The purpose of the project was to show students that just like themselves each quilt square was beautifully unique, and when they came together, they made a masterpiece. Later in the year, students explored what it means to be a good citizen and upstander of their classroom, school and the greater community.
“Both the Raising Multicultural Kids’ Littlest Inclusive Learners and Diversity In Classroom Leadership and Literature programs taught our students lessons that they will carry with them forever,” said Principal Kyle Shaw. “Students demonstrated that when they value each person’s contributions and work together, they can accomplish anything!”
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