October 2022

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

My name is Risa Komatsu and I’m reaching out to let you know about an optional after-school affinity group for Asian fourth and fifth graders at Angier. Affinity groups are a common and well-established practice which allow people who share an identity to gather and talk in a safe space about issues related to that identity.

Throughout my personal experiences in school growing up, I lacked the resources to embrace my Chinese and Japanese cultures, or even to learn more about them. It is incredibly important that children feel like their experiences are reflected in the curriculum and in our books. I feel that it would be beneficial for our Asian students to know they have a group where they can embrace their cultures through activities, projects and discussions.

The Asian affinity group will meet once a month, with the goal of developing a positive sense of self and to learn more about the similarities and differences within the culture we identify with.

• The group is open to any fourth or fifth grader who identifies with an Asian heritage.
• During our first meetings, we will get to know each other and will map out our Asian cultures across the globe.
• Later in the year, we will research a cultural topic we feel passionate about, like a specific holiday or food or another idea students may have, to create a project that can teach others about our Asian heritages.
• Meetings will be on the second Wednesday of the month from 12:20-1:10PM in Room 301. The first meeting will be on Wednesday, Nov. 9th. 

• Please complete this brief form to let me know if your child plans to attend, and if so, what their dismissal plan is.

• Meeting dates will be: 11/9, 12/14, 1/11, 2/8, 3/8, 4/12 and 5/10.

I look forward to working with your children and getting to know them even better! Please feel free to email at komatsur@newton.k12.ma.us me with any questions. Thank you!

Best,

Risa Komatsu

Angier Fifth Grade Intern

komatsur@newton.k12.ma.us

If you need this information translated, please copy and paste it into Google Translate. The link to Google translate is http://translate.google.com/