We would like to thank Greenspring parent, Kisha Carrington, for coming in today and sharing her Kwanzaa traditions with our Children’s House and Elementary classes. Kisha showed our students how to light the Kinara, described the seven principles of Kwanzaa, and brought a basket of fresh fruit to share with each class. Special thanks also go to the Upper Elementary volunteers who helped Kisha throughout the morning with her presentations!⁠ ⁠

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 through January 1 to celebrate African American culture. ⁠ Each of the seven days are devoted to one of the principles:

1. Umoja – Unity in family and community
2. Kujichagulia (Self-determination) – To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves
3. Ujima (Collective work and responsibility) – To build and maintain our community together and to solve our problems together
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative economics) – To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together
5. Nia (Purpose) – To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community
6. Kuumba (Creativity) – To do always as much as we can in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it
7. Imani (Faith) – To believe in our people, our parents, our teachers, and our leaders

We are grateful to all of the families and staff members who have shared your cultural traditions with our children this year. ⁠