Elementary school offers school spirit hijabs for students
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WKRC/KARE/CNN Newsource) — A Minnesota elementary school added a new item for some students to show their school pride.
For the first time ever, William Byrne Elementary is selling hijabs for its female Muslim students, and they bear the school's mascot.
"Every student deserves the opportunity to express their school identity and have that feeling of belonging," said Carla Valadez.
Valadez, a parent-volunteer and spirit wear coordinator, was excited to make that happen.
In 2021, the school's Somali-cultural liaison Maryan Ali suggested the parent-teacher organization find a way to offer their Muslim students who are girls a way to join others in wearing something with their mascot, "Buster the Bulldog" on it.
"I was, of course, so grateful that she identified this need in the community, and it was an enthusiastic, 'Yes,'" said Valadez. "I worked with the whole PTO, and this immediately became a very important initiative for us."
They began tracking down vendors and screen printers who helped bring the vision to life, eventually selling their first custom hijab to 10-year-old Nawal Mohamed, who got one in each color.
Her dad, Said Ali, says he's thankful the school offers these now.
"If we get different colors, we might get more. It's really good to have it," he said.
Seeing the looks on students' faces "made it all worth it," Valadez said. "It really makes this work meaningful."
The effort to expand school pride, the school says, paid off in big smiles in a spirited new style.
