February is African Heritage Month. The beginning of African Heritage Month can be traced back to 1926 when Harvard-educated Black historian Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week to recognize the achievements made by African Americans.
Woodson purposefully chose February because of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln who were both key figures in the emancipation of enslaved Blacks.
Black History Month was first celebrated in Canada in 1950.
The 2020 African Heritage Month theme, The Ties that Bind: Faith, Family and Community, recognizes the essential traits that sustain the strength, resiliency and togetherness of the African Nova Scotian community.
These ties are the bedrock for the African Nova Scotian community which helped them support and stay connected to each other.
The theme aligns with the “Recognition” pillar of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (DPAD). We must recognize the important contributions of people of African descent, while also acknowledging the long-standing prejudices and unfair treatment endured for generations.

February 5 is WORLD READ ALOUD DAY .Reading to children from an early age is an acknowledged factor in early childhood development as it not only strengthens the bond between adult and child, but helps little ones develop cognitive, auditory processing and conversational skills. But young children aren’t the only ones who benefit from reading aloud. Try it with your pet, or your plants or volunteer to do in in a hospital with coma patients. The benefits are endless!

Guidance:
Grad photo retakes will take place next Tuesday, Feb 11. Please sign up in Student services. If you are not signed up you will not get your picture done. There will be a $5 sitting fee and there will be NO GROUP PICTURES done on this day.

Join NSCAD University for their Portfolio Day on Saturday, February 15, 2020! This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about our programs, tour the campuses, meet your future classmates and teachers, as well as sit down to have a one-on-one review of your portfolio with some of our teaching faculty. If you have any questions, please email admissions@nscad.ca

February is a busy month with visitors to Auburn.
Feb 12…Acadia; Feb 13…SMU; Feb 24…MSVU; Feb 25…Memorial; Feb 28th… St. Thomas. Please see student services to sign up and to get complete information on these visits.

Sports:
Any and all boys and girls.   There will be open tryouts this week for Auburn Rugby. 
They will be in our school Gym from 4 to 6pm.  Tryout dates are:  Wednesday, February 5th.  Thursday, February 6th.  Friday, February 7th. Please make sure that you are wearing gym clothes and sneakers. All are welcome.  No experience necessary.

School:
Yearbook will meet Friday at lunch. A reminder to the rest of the school to purchase your yearbook soon! The deadline is February 28th. Only $60 for a year’s worth of memories. You can buy one for cash in the main office or online via our website.
Community:
Imhotep after school today.

At Lunch today: Aubcon will meet in room 103… DnD will continue character creation in room 225. Make sure you bring either money or food tonight. We start at 4 in student services. Make sure you have a ride arranged for no later than 9.
In the caf: Chicken Stir Fry today!