Brentwood families,
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! This annual celebration recognizes the significant historical and cultural impact of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. The Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. As of 2019, there were about 22.9 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the U.S. According to the Pew Research Center, AAPI people are a diverse and growing group that make up about 7 percent of the total U.S. population. Today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing racial group in America.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed to innumerable facets of this country’s culture and society—science and medicine, literature and art, sports, and recreation, government and politics, and activism and law. In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first Asian American vice president of the United States. AAPI people, stories, and traditions rose to the forefront with South Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite winning the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2019 and the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, debuting Marvel’s first Asian superhero.
AAPI people have a long history in the U.S., despite the stereotype that they are “perpetual foreigners,” the idea that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are inherently foreign, and not truly American. In fact, according to the Bering Land Bridge Theory, Asians first migrated to what is now known as North America more than 15,000 years ago, over a land bridge between Asia and North America. In the 16th century, Filipinos who were escaping forced labor and enslavement during the Spanish galleon trade immigrated to North America, eventually establishing a settlement in St. Malo, Louisiana, in 1763. Throughout the California Gold Rush of the 1850s, a wave of Asian immigrants came to the West Coast and provided labor for gold mines, factories, and the transcontinental railroad.
Since their first step onto U.S. soil, Asians have been met with terrible xenophobia, racism, bias, and violence. Regrettably, during World War II, people of Japanese descent were incarcerated in internment camps across the nation. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, racist and xenophobic rhetoric about the origins of the virus led to a disturbing spike in anti-Asian racism and violence, with AAPI people of all ages and cultures being verbally and physically harassed in various American cities.
In May—chosen for AAPI Heritage Month because it commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the U.S., on May 7, 1843—we single out the unique journey of all AAPI immigrants and citizens and their life experiences, traditions, and cultures. This month also includes Golden Spike Day, May 10, 1869, marking the completion of the transcontinental railroad, built by Chinese workers, among others. (Adapted from an article by Minhae Shim Roth, History.com)
Want to Learn More? See below for a selection of articles, films, and children's books.
12 Asian American and Pacific Islander Women to Know
The Asian American Women Who Fought To Make Their Mark in WWII
Gibberish, by Young Vo
Bilal Cooks Daal, by Anoosha Saeed
A Morning with Grandpa, by Sylvia Liu
Come One, Come All
This year’s Talent Show takes place this Friday, May 3, from 5-9 p.m., in the Brentwood Auditorium. Watch your fellow Bulldogs as they sing, dance, act, tell jokes, and so much more! Audience members, please feel free to bring a picnic blanket and dinner. Indoor chairs will also be set up at the back of the gym. See you there!
Spring Book Fair
The Spring Literati Book Fair runs Monday, May 6 to Thursday, May 9. Students and staff will be able to shop the Book Fair during the school day. After-school shopping hours will be available for families on Monday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 8 until 6 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 9 until 4 p.m.
Credit cards and cash are accepted, however, the easiest way for your child to shop at the fair is with a Literati gift card. The library will have an active list of all gift card purchases for easy child-friendly purchasing.
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
This year, we are showing our teachers and staff a little love during the week of May 6th. With the slogan “Market Street—Thank You For Helping Our Students Grow,” co-chairs Kristal Jones and Hillary Bringardner have some exciting plans in the works. Help our teachers and staff feel loved and appreciated with your donations, which can be made by Venmo (@HillaryBringardner, last 4 digits of phone number: 4395) or PayPal (@hillarybringardner or email hillary.james@gmail.com)
Sunday, May 5 from 3-4:30 p.m.: Decorate! Join us to help decorate the school sidewalks to show our gratitude for the BEST teachers! Bring sidewalk chalk or anything fun to adorn our beloved school. Sign up here to let us know if you’ll be able to make it.
Monday, May 6: “Bulldog Farmers Market” Staff will swing by the Community Room to pick up “shopping bags” and load up on fun goodies from the Bulldog Farmers Market. You can show your support by donating (see info. above) or dropping off items from April 28 through May 5 at 1204 Aggie Lane (Hillary), 1307 Madison Avenue (Kristal), or in the community room by 7:30 a.m. on Monday, May 6. Sign up to let others know what you plan to bring. Ideas include fruit, jerky, granola, nuts, bath bombs, soaps, candles, face masks, eye masks, lip balm, INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED baked goods (some gluten-free and dairy-free choices are always appreciated).
Tuesday, May 7: “Bulldog Convenience Store” Let's show our staff some extra love in the form of drinks, snacks, and treats! You can show your support by donating (see info. above), which volunteers will use to purchase delicious nibbles.
Wednesday, May 8: “Bulldog Cafe” A special catered lunch along with treats to be provided by the PTA.
Thursday, May 9: “Bulldog Bakery” Breakfast tacos and treats will be delivered courtesy of the PTA.
Friday, May 10: “Bulldog Ice Cream Parlor” Who doesn’t love Amy’s Ice Cream (thanks PTA)!
Special thanks to Katie Swaim (Brentwood parent) for creating Market Street-themed decorations and to Mina Rios (Brentwood parent) from Kosmic Kombucha for the donation of delicious kombucha for the Farmers Market.
Our 2024-2025 School Supply Fundraiser Is LIVE!
Save yourself time and help raise money for our Bulldogs by participating in the school supply fundraiser. If you order before mid-June, your supplies will arrive at Brentwood in time for Meet the Teacher night, in August. (Be sure to choose the grade level of your student next year.) Families are welcome to purchase donation boxes, just indicate “donation” in the name field and please notify stephanie.slakey@gmail.com so that the PTA can keep track.
Supply boxes are available after mid-June to be shipped directly to students’ homes, but note that because they are not packed and shipped in bulk, prices are much higher than the bulk orders.
If there are any questions, please contact direct@schooltoolbox.net or stephanie.slakey@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting our Brentwood Bulldogs!
May Dates of Note
Thurs., May 2: UT Science Professors Present for Grades K-5
Fri., May 3: Talent Show (5-9 p.m.)
Mon. May 6-Thurs., May 9: Spring Book Fair
Fri., May 10: Incoming Families Campus Tour (8:30 a.m.)
Thurs., May 23: Last day of school for all students!
Remember to subscribe to our Brentwood Elementary Google Calendar to stay up-to-date on other upcoming events, holidays, and PTA activities.
The Bulldog Fund
Brentwood PTA's one-and-done fundraiser enables you to make a one-time donation to be put toward important programming like literacy and math software, library books, music, art, and more. Donate HERE.
Let Us Know
Have a program, event, or volunteer need that you want published in the Bulldog Bark, PTA website or social channels? Email communications@brentwoodpta.com.
PTA Website: http://brentwoodpta.com
PTA Facebook: Brentwood Elementary PTA
Twitter: @BrentwoodAISD
Instagram/Threads: @BrentwoodBulldogs_AISD
Brentwood Website: http://brentwood.austinschools.org/
