May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM)—a time to commemorate the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American society. We are calling on Bay Area parents and caregivers to partner with schools in recognizing JAHM and to use this month as an opportunity for education, celebration, and community-building.
To support you in bringing JAHM to your child’s classroom and school, we’ve provided a list of ways you can engage with teachers and school staff—whether that’s by offering to speak in a class, helping organize a school-wide event, sharing resources, or encouraging your school to participate in JAHM activities.
Your involvement helps ensure that Jewish identity and contributions are acknowledged and honored in meaningful ways across our campuses.
Option 1: Do a Classroom Visit
Use our guide for Bringing Jewish Culture to the Classroom to guide your planning for a visit to your child’s classroom for JAHM. There you will find a form letter for your student’s teacher asking to come into the classroom that can be adapted for JAHM as well as ideas for activities for your visit. You might also consider utilizing ideas from the teacher resource for your planning.
Option 2: Encouraging Classroom Teacher Participation
If a classroom visit isn’t feasible, you can also support JAHM by encouraging your child’s teacher to include Jewish American stories, heroes, or cultural touchpoints in their lessons this May. We have created an extensive teacher resource to support them in their planning. Here is a sample message you can send to teachers, along with easy-to-use resources they can incorporate into their classroom:
Dear [Teacher’s Name],
I hope you’re doing well! As we head into the final stretch of the school year, I just want to say thank you for all the energy, creativity, and care you’ve put into the classroom. It’s been such a joy to see how much my child has learned and grown this year.
As we enter May, I wanted to share that it’s Jewish American Heritage Month. It’s a time to celebrate the rich history and vibrant contributions of Jewish Americans to our country. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to bring even more inclusion and cultural awareness into the classroom.
I’d love to encourage you to consider incorporating a small activity, lesson, or classroom mention of JAHM this month. Whether it’s a read-aloud, a spotlight on a Jewish American figure, or a connection to your existing curriculum, it’s a meaningful way to help students see the diversity of American life reflected in what they’re learning.
Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Bay Area has put together easy-to-use classroom resources to make this simple and accessible for teachers across all grades and subject areas. You can explore their suggestions and materials here.
Please let me know if I can support in any way—whether that’s helping coordinate a classroom activity, sharing materials, or just cheering from the sidelines. Thanks again for all you do to make your classroom such a welcoming place for every student.
Warmly,
[Your Name]
Option 3: Principal/District Contact
Promote school-wide recognition of JAHM by reaching out to your school principal or district leaders. Whether you request a bulletin board display, morning announcements, or an assembly your voice matters. Use our template letter to help guide your communication and advocate for inclusion and education at the broader school level.
Dear [Principal’s Name/Superintendent’s Name],
I hope this message finds you well. As we approach the final stretch of the school year, I want to thank you and your team for your dedication and leadership—it’s clear how much work goes into creating a positive school experience for students and families, and it’s deeply appreciated.
With May just around the corner, I’m reaching out to encourage our school/district to recognize and celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). JAHM is a national observance that honors the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American life, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to highlight inclusion, diversity, and cultural understanding in our schools.
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Bay Area has created a set of accessible, age-appropriate resources for educators and administrators to use in acknowledging JAHM in classrooms and across campuses. These include sample lessons, classroom activities, morning announcements, and ideas for school-wide celebration. You can find those resources here.
Whether through a bulletin board, an announcement, classroom learning, or district-wide messaging, recognizing JAHM helps all students see that diverse identities and histories belong in our shared school community.
I’d be happy to help in any way—by sharing materials, speaking to other families, or connecting you with JCRC staff if helpful.
Thank you again for your leadership and for continuing to make our school/district a place where every student feels seen, valued, and included.
Warmly,
[Your Name]
