At Wilde Lake High School, we embrace the joy of diversity within our community, our O’hana. We support our LGBTQIA+ O’hana and strive to support and enrich their time at WL. We are committed to providing an educational and social environment that affirms and promotes an inclusive, equitable space which values diversity. Keep up on what is going on in the larger HCPSS Pride community at their website.
Pronoun Options in Canvas
All Canvas users, including students, staff, and parents/families, can identity their pronouns in Canvas. As a default, the pronoun field is left blank. Users who do not wish for a pronoun do not need to take any action. Want to identify your pronouns? See https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2021/04/optional-pronoun-settings-in-canvas/
LGBTQIA+ Announcements and News:
Rainbow Vision Literary Magazine Volume 5 is now open for your original submissions
of art, poetry, short stories, essays, plays, photography, music, etc. Please visit the HCPSS Pride website for more information and to submit your work. We are accepting submissions until March 1, 2024.
READ THE RAINBOW - REGISTRATION OPEN NOW
Read the Rainbow is back with Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger on Tuesday, December 5th at 7:00PM. This program is open to middle and high school students, parents, educators, librarians, and community members. Read the Rainbow is an inclusive, virtual, and free book club that brings readers together to discuss books with the author who wrote them. Darcie Little Badger will be present at the meeting. While this bookclub is open to all, please note that students drive the discussion questions. Students in grades 8th-12th grade are eligible to receive a free book (first 50 registered students). Register here to participate.
Poster Proposal on Social Justice
The Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity are excited to invite Howard County 11th & 12th grade students to submit a poster proposal on social justice for our 2024 Humanity Matters Conference. The conference will take place on Monday, May 6, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Turf Valley Resort 2700 Turf Valley Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042. The theme of the conference is “envisioning social justice through an equity lens.”
Students are encouraged to submit research posters that are eye-catching, visual representations of various social justice topics including, but not limited to: gender inequality, racial equity, environmental justice, children’s rights, community advocacy, disability rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, labor, disinformation and misinformation, and more. An effective poster presentation highlights the main points or components of a project. Text and images should be large enough to be seen from a distance at several feet.
The original deadline of September 29th has been extended. Please encourage your students to submit the title of their presentation, a bio (75 words max), a description of their poster project (100 words max), along with their name, email, grade, and phone number to Dr. Denise Boston at equity@howardcountymd.gov. Please place: 2024 Humanity Matters Conference Poster Submission in the Subject Line of the email.
Queering Science:
QUEERING SCIENCE - REGISTER NOW!
HCPSS in partnership with the Howard County Conservancy is offering a series of 3 programs at the Woodstock location of the Howard County Conservancy for students in grades 6-12. Interested high school students will also have an opportunity to earn service learning hours. Queering Science is a program inclusive of all students and encourages LGBTQIA+ students and their ally peers to engage in science related activities. It's an opportunity to get outside, be in nature, draw, create, and reflect. Each program consists of a hike, activity, and community building. Register here for one or all of the following programs:
September 13 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM - Noteworthy Nature
October 4 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM - For the Birds
October 25 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM - Building a Bonfire
Details can be found on this flier
HCPSS Pride website always has great info to catch up on.
Rainbow Vision Vol.4 is now available online to read.
HCPSS has in place comprehensive supports across all of our schools:
LGBTQIA+ Youth
Rainbow Representatives
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
WLHS Rainbow Representative: Rainbow Representatives ensure that schools are allies and advocates for LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and families. The school Rainbow Representative attends quarterly meetings; receives and disseminates information regarding LGBTQIA+ topics of interest to the school and school community as appropriate; and provides instructional support for educators. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Wilde Lake High School Rainbow Representative, Annora Bailey at annora_bailey@hcpss.org
GSA: GSA is a club at WLHS in which LGBTQ youth and their allies have a place to socialize without being judged as well as talk about what is happening in the news in regards to the LGBTQ community. Enjoy watching movies, reading articles, talking about recent happenings, and socializing. Just show up to meetings, no requirements. Come when you can! Meets on Wednesdays from 2:15-3:00pm Location: TV Studio/Media Center. Advisors for GSA: Kathleen Palmateer kathleen_palmateer@hcpss.org & Brittany Franckowiak brittany_franckowiak@hcpss.org