On Saturday, September 30th, Arlington High School hosted an outdoor back-to-school gathering on its front lawn. The event was organized by the APS LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Taskforce, the AHS Gender and Sexuality Alliance, and Queer-Straight alliances from both Gibbs and Ottoson, as well as various Rainbow Alliances from the public elementary schools in town. Attendees enjoyed a number of fun activities, including a drawing station and music. An organizer from the AHS GSA read a children’s book out loud. Booths could be found around the premises which featured entertaining inclusive activities such as sticker making and a station which boasted diverse books showcasing LGBTQIA+ characters.
Considering that the event was a collaborative effort between a variety of groups, lots of deliberation and planning went into it. “There were a bunch of meetings ahead of time,” A student from the AHS GSA informed the Insider. “We discussed what things we were going to be doing at the event.” According to Molly Gillis, a member of the Arlington Rainbow Commission, it took several weeks to plan.
Commissioner Gillis told the Insider that “The purpose of the event is to have a back-to-school event where we create community and celebrate belonging across all the schools.” This idea of fostering a sense of belonging for all students is central to the APS philosophy and is also reflected in the general goals of the other LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups throughout Arlington. The Insider also had a chance to speak to AnitaCristina Calcaterra, a teacher at Brackett Elementary School and the founder of the original Rainbow Alliance. When asked about the general aim of the Rainbow Alliances, Ms. Calcaterra replied, “I think (that it’s)having representation, so that students who come from diverse families can see that there are other families like themselves.” She also stated that “To create belonging, it’s helpful to have spaces that are safe and places where we can join together and celebrate.”
This weekend’s gathering served to create one of those spaces and also act as a precursor to a host of other events set to happen later this year. “At the end of the year in May, we’re going to have a pride event,”said Commissioner Gillis.
To conclude, various organizations operating in Arington work very hard to create spaces to celebrate belonging and individuality. Stay up to date with their work to support their efforts and so you don’t miss out on any fun events like this one!
