School Newsletter for Columbus Day: Ideas and Template

Columbus Day is one of the most complex federal holidays on the school calendar. Depending on your district, community, and state, the holiday may be observed as Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, or both. For school newsletters, complexity is not a reason to avoid the topic -- it is a reason to approach it thoughtfully and with factual grounding.

Understanding the Evolving Holiday

Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1937, following decades of lobbying by Italian American communities who viewed Columbus as a symbol of immigrant contribution. Over the past three decades, the holiday has faced significant reconsideration. At least 14 states and dozens of cities have formally renamed it Indigenous Peoples Day. Schools in those jurisdictions observe the renamed holiday. Schools in states where the change has not been officially adopted may still use Columbus Day. Check your district's official calendar before writing the newsletter.

What Students Are Learning: Framing It for Families

The newsletter should reflect what students actually discuss in class. For K-2 students, this might be a simple introduction to exploration and Native American culture. For grades 3-5, it likely includes the Columbian Exchange, the impact of European contact on Indigenous peoples, and a first encounter with multiple historical perspectives. For middle and high school students, the curriculum may include primary source analysis, the history of the holiday itself, and current debates about renaming and recognition. Tell parents what their student is studying in those specific terms.

Template Section: What We're Learning This Week

Here is a newsletter section for a fifth-grade classroom covering this topic:

"This week, we are exploring the history of Columbus Day and why it means different things to different people. We will read accounts from European explorers and from Indigenous historians who describe the same events from a different perspective. Students will write a short paragraph explaining what they think the holiday should celebrate and why. Families: ask your student what they think should be on the Columbus Day postage stamp and see what they say."

That framing is factual, respects multiple perspectives, and gives families a conversation starter without telling them what to think.

Resources to Share with Families

Give families three or four concrete resources they can use over the long weekend. The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (americanindian.si.edu) has free educator and family resources. Many states have tribal nations with official websites that include history and cultural education sections. Your school library may have a list of age-appropriate books by Indigenous authors -- ask the librarian to suggest three titles for your grade level and include them in the newsletter. A simple reading list sends a clear signal that the school takes this history seriously.

Navigating Disagreement in Your Community

Some families in your school may have strong feelings about renaming Columbus Day -- in either direction. The newsletter is not the place to resolve that debate. Stay close to what students are learning and the factual historical record. If a parent contacts you with objections, have a brief conversation by phone or in person rather than responding publicly in the newsletter. When the community is divided, the newsletter's job is to communicate clearly about school learning, not to take a side in a political argument.

Acknowledging the Local Tribal History

Every region of the United States was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples. Your school's land has a specific tribal history. Including one sentence in the newsletter that acknowledges the Indigenous peoples of your region -- "Our school sits on the traditional territory of the [Nation name] people" -- is a practice called a land acknowledgment. Many districts have adopted formal land acknowledgments for official communications. If your district has one, include it. If it does not, check with your principal before adding one independently.

Making the Newsletter Useful for All Families

Whatever the holiday is called in your district, the newsletter should give families something useful: what their student is learning, when school resumes, and how they can support learning at home over the long weekend. The holiday context enriches the newsletter -- it should not replace the practical information families need. Keep the historical and cultural content to two sections and the rest of the newsletter focused on the coming weeks of school.