Dear Families,
Last Friday in my weekly letter, I asked families to donate cakes for our musical cake game for Fun Fair. In years past it has been called musical cake game, musical candy cakes, musical chairs, and I used the phrase cakewalk.
Over the weekend, Superintendent Sean McMannon and I received emails from community members that shared with us the history of the cakewalk, and highlighted the racist roots of cakewalks. I appreciate that people cared enough to contact us and name these significant concerns. As soon as Sean and I learned its racist roots we cancelled the activity at our upcoming and future Fun Fairs. No matter what we call it each year, the game has connections to a harmful and racist history and has had a negative impact.
Sean communicated with the district staff and the Winooski community about the issue, and gave links to articles so people could learn more about the racist history of cakewalk. At school, teachers have held discussions with students about the racist roots of the cakewalk so that they would understand the reason the activity will not be at the Fun Fair anymore.
We are deeply committed to, and incredibly proud of, the diversity in our district. Learning that a long-standing activity has links to harmful and racist history has been a humbling experience for me. It has highlighted that even as adults there is always learning to do. We ask our students every day to learn and grow, and I am viewing this experience as a way for our community to continue to learn and grow together. I am so proud to work in a district where families are engaged, and where they feel supported enough to come to the administration with their concerns. When we work together, we are stronger.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this. My office door is always open.
Sara Raabe
JFK Principal