All are welcome to join us for a special meeting on Thursday 10/11 after school. October 11th is the 30th Annual National Coming Out Day. Find out more about National Coming Out Day here. At Waubonsie Valley we celebrate with a GSA meeting where students share their coming out stories, we offer tips and suggestions on how to come out SAFELY, and folks can ask questions. This is a safe space, and all conversations that happen at ALL GSA meetings are confidential. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COME OUT AT THE MEETING (you never have to come out at our meetings). You also don't have to have already come out. Everyone is welcome, even if you just come to listen. If you have any questions at all, please never hesitate to email [email protected].
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Hey Folks!!!
It is OCTOBER and the GSA is off to an AMAZING year already! We are averaging about 20 students per meeting, with students from all kinds of grades, genders and sexualities! We've had a few amazing events so far! We got to know freshman students at Tribe day. We hosted a table in the cafeteria and had Allies pledge to support LGBTQ+ peers for Ally week. We held a booth at Know Your Village--a new WV tradition, where you, well, get to know your village. This week we welcomed back our former president Will, and screened Love, Simon, which was emotional and community building, to say the least. GLSEN (finally) released this year's National Student Council--and our very own president Victorea Quinton-Hairston is a member!!! We are fundraising like crazy, gearing up for an amazing 360 Youth Services Transitional Housing Christmas Stocking delivery again this year. We will have a special meeting on Thursday 10/11 to celebrate National Coming Out Day. Busy, busy, busy.....but, I know one thing for sure. I am the luckiest teacher at Waubonsie Valley High School. Greetings! I hope everyone is having a great summer! To those who came and joined us for the inaugural Aurora Pride Parade, I could not be more grateful! The PRIDE was strong on that day! What an amazing experience to see the community come out by the thousands to support LGBTQ+ folks! We were joined by Warriors past, present and future, and despite the heat, we had a truly amazing day! We have a couple of other cool things going on this summer! Two of our members were selected to attend the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance Action Camp. They will come back as even more FIERCE leaders and advocates for an awesome next year! One of our members was also selected to be on the GLSEN National Student Council. This summer Victorea will to be one of 18 students from across the country to attend a 4 day Leadership summit in NEW YORK CITY! She will also help advise GLSEN this whole school year on projects like Ally Week, No Name Calling Week, and Day of Silence! I couldn't be more proud of the work that we do at WVHS, throughout the district, community, state (and now country!). I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the summer and comes back recharged and ready to go! We are going to be busy! Love always,
Savannah Smith Hello! Tomorrow is Aurora's inaugural Pride Parade! Here is everything you need to know if you are marching with us!
Click here for a map of the meeting point. Meet up is at 11 a.m. Look for us on RIVER ST near Cross St. in the GREEN SECTION, position 2. Click here for information about Parking Please click here to review the Rules It's going to be a hot one folks! So dress accordingly and make sure to stay cool and hydrated! If you have any other questions check either https://www.aurorapride.org/ Or Ask Mrs. Smith via email ([email protected]) or Remind, or Facebook. Hey Y'all!! The WV GSA is raising funds for our upcoming events! In April we will host the WV Day of Silence and in May we will have our second annual Lavender Ceremony! Teachers can order bulk pencils here. Are you looking for that edge on upcoming testing dates? Come on by room 303 to buy a Good Luck WARRIOR PRIDE pencil to help with the SAT and AP testing! We have CANDY too!
What is intersectionality? What does it mean to have multiple facets to your identity? How does each affect your life? Come learn all about it in the LMC Monday at 2:45!
Hey y'all! Awesome meeting yesterday with Nat from the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance! We were proud to share some of our work and projects with them! We are excited to have students who signed up on the Youth Listserve, to keep up to date with the happenings for GSAs around the state! We are energized, and ready to head in to Say of Silence Planning, and our upcoming Amplify Educates meetings about LGBTQ+ and intersectional identities! Come and join us! The doors are always open, and lots of fun work to do this spring!!!
There is a lot in store for the GSA in 2018! This spring we will host our annual Day of Silence, and our annual Lavender Ceremony! We will also welcome a variety of guest speakers, connect with other GSAs and work on developing materials to help teachers make WV an awesome inclusive school for everyone! Please come and join us! All are welcome!
The WV GSA is once again raising funds to provide Christmas stockings for the 8 residents of 360 Youth Services Transitional Housing program. The 18-21 year old LGBTQ residents are working, going to school, and saving to get their own apartments--but are currently facing housing instability. In the past, we have been able to get them a variety of gift cards to help with essentials (groceries and clothes) and some treats too. We would love to be able to do the same again this year. Thank you in advance for your donations. It is so important for these young folks, and the students in the WV GSA, to know that they have allies in the community. This past year has been difficult, considering the political climate in this country. We would like for this holiday season to be filled with happiness and goodies!
I was beyond honored to be invited to Dare to Dream this past weekend. Dare to Dream is an annual fundraiser for Youth Outlook a local organization that supports the WV GSA and provides drop in centers for local LGBTQ+ teens (basically a city wide GSA). The evening was magical! I got to meet folks from the team at Lurie Childrens Hospital and from the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance. It is always so inspiring to meet and connect with people who work to make safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth! There are LOTS of people out there who care about kids!
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