Where Every Voice Belongs: Orion Co-Op’s Multicultural Studies Earns Countywide Recognition

Exemplifying the importance of home and school connections–a pillar of student engagement and success–the Orion Alternative campus was recently applauded for its Parent Co-Operative Program Multicultural Studies experience.

Nominated for a Kent Award for its multifaceted program, the Multicultural Studies Co-Op fosters a deep connection to the learning process as students and families play a key role in facilitating activities throughout the school year.

In accepting the award on behalf of the Orion Alternative community, Principal Winnie Chen said:

“This award belongs to our entire Orion community—students, families, and staff—who come together each year to create a learning environment that honors culture, identity, and joy. The Multicultural Studies Program reflects who we are: a school that believes every child’s story matters and every voice belongs. Thank you for recognizing that.”

The Kent Award, issued by the San Mateo County School Boards Association, are conferred to inventive programs that are put into action in local school districts, the county office of education, or in the community college district.

“Congratulations to the Orion community on this well-deserved Kent Award,” said Superintendent Dr. John Baker. “Your Co-Op model and Multicultural Studies Program are powerful examples of what happens when schools lead with equity, creativity, and collaboration. You are setting the bar for inclusive education in Redwood City and beyond.”

**Orion Alternative Elementary School Principal Winnie Chen accepts the Kent Award joined by Superintendent Baker, School Board Trustees, and Orion Alternative teachers and parent leaders**

Orion’s Parent Co-Op TK-5 students lead the annual program by nominating and voting on countries or regions to study through enriching parent-led, hands-on activities. Often the region selected is one in which families have a personal connection, leading to meaningful engagement.

The five-month program, first started in 1980, seeks to foster cultural awareness, promote diversity and highlight inclusivity through the collaboration of parents, students, and teachers, culminating in a weeklong multicultural experience. An all-community open house, hosted by students, cultivates the learner's agency as they demonstrate their findings for all.

Responding to a need for a culturally responsive learning environment, the Program aims to embed multicultural learning throughout the entire school year so that students see their backgrounds as part of the curriculum. The Parent Co-Operative Program Multicultural Studies experience actively involves families in sharing their cultural knowledge.

**A student gets his passport stamped as he visits the Republic of Palau, researched and hosted by 5th graders**

Strategic Organizational Alignment:

The program aligns to Redwood City School District’s (RCSD) Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) in several key ways:

The program ensures that students feel a sense of belonging, directly impacting academic achievement and social emotional wellbeing, connecting with the District’s Goal One of providing high-quality instruction and social emotional supports.

Goal Two, elevating English Language Learner progress, is reflected as the interactive, language-rich environment of the Multicultural Studies program provides opportunities for peer-to-peer interaction and language acquisition.

Academic growth in math and English Language Arts, Goal Three, is linked in the program’s interdisciplinary approach, as well as strengthening student engagement in the learning process.

**Students learn about volcanoes in El Salvador, researched and hosted by kindergartners**

**A 5th grader, wearing the colors of the Republic of Palau, guides Superintendent Baker during his tour**

The 2025 Kent Award plaque presented to Orion Alternative

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Where Every Voice Belongs: Orion Co-Op’s Multicultural Studies Earns Countywide Recognition

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