May 2026 Read Across SMSD- Honor Heritage

Schools across the Shawnee Mission School District often take time throughout the year to help students and staff gain a deeper understanding of each other by celebrating cultural roots.

That’s what the Shawnee Mission School District celebrates this May during Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as our community focuses on the theme “Honor Heritage."

Dr. Brittany Gonser, director of professional learning, recently visited some students at Highlands Elementary School, who shared ways they honor their heritage. Together, they highlighted May’s featured book “Tricky Chopsticks” by Sylvia Chen. This story is about a Chinese American girl, who is trying to learn an important family tradition. She wants to learn how to use chopsticks because it helps her feel connected to her cultural roots. In this story, we see how she uses problem-solving and grit to face this challenge.

While at Highlands, Nora, Yuki, Kazuha, and Rose, all fifth graders, explained cultural traditions they have learned that help them honor their heritage. They recently shared some of these traditions at a school culture night.

Nora spoke about her Taiwanese heritage and how much she enjoys the red envelope tradition. This is part of a New Year’s celebration, and all who join in are eager to learn who will open the envelope with the most money.

“I’m always so excited to see if I get more money every New Years celebration!” Nora added. “It’s also a lot of fun because we are spending time with family and friends.”

Yuki shared that he has learned multiple traditions from his Japanese family. From time to time, he enjoys playing with tops or folding origami.

“I like to make my own creations,” Yuki shared. “I really enjoy the way it feels to fold the paper. One of the best things about origami is you can play with what you made or use it as a decoration.”

Kazuha demonstrated one of her favorite traditions from Japan, a toy called a kendama.

“It can be really hard to learn and confusing at first, but when you learn how to do it, it is a lot of fun!” Kazuha explained. “I have one hanging on the wall of my house and it’s fun when my family plays. My dad, who taught me, is the best!”

Rose highlighted her Vietnamese and German heritage, and specifically spoke about pho, one of her favorite foods made by her grandmother who is Vietnamese.

“When I eat it, it always brings me comfort and reminds me of my grandma who is Vietnamese, too,” she shared. “Usually she will make it a few times a year. She also encouraged me to learn how to use chopsticks, just like the character in the book!”

Dr. Gonser highlighted one of her favorite family traditions is a fish fry, held during the Winter Solstice.

“It gets us thinking about warm summer days and fishing in Northern Minnesota,” she described. “When we host our event in the winter, it’s an amazing time with family and friends and is a reminder that the joy we have spending time together happens even on the coldest of days.”

About Read Across SMSD

Read Across SMSD is modeled after the National Read Across America program and is led in partnership with NEA-Shawnee Mission and the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation. Access to books for Shawnee Mission students is made possible through the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation.

Click here for the Read Across SMSD webpage, featuring resources from previous years, archive videos, and more information about the program.

NEA Book List

Elementary: Tricky Chopsticks By Sylvia Chen Click here to learn more.

Middle: Don’t Cause Trouble By Arree Chung Click here to learn more.

Young Adult: Midnights with You by Clare Osongco Click here to learn more.