Columbus teacher makes hijabs to match students' uniforms
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A Columbus City Schools teacher added her school's logo to hijabs for her students.
Amanda Guglielmi, a second-grade teacher at Avalon Elementary School, said she first saw the idea in the news. Then, she bought a few hijabs and used her Cricut machine to add the school's logo to them, so they matched the students' uniforms.
Tuesday night, she passed out the hijabs during the school's math and literacy night.
"She was surprised," Nasteha Osman, whose daughter attends Avalon Elementary School, said. "I was surprised myself. I was like is that a hijab? I mean I say to myself, 'finally, we’re being recognized'."
Guglielmi said the project started simple.
"I started out with just a few just to see if it could be something we could do, cause we were making the Cricut designs and pressing them on," Guglielmi said.
Once district leaders heard about the project, they covered the costs for more than 50 hijabs.
"I wanted everyone to feel included," Guglielmi said. "I wanted everyone to feel like they could wear their uniform to school and everything matches, you know what I mean. Not to have something that’s different than somebody else."
"Being inclusive, that matters a lot," Fetiya Mohammad, who has a daughter in second grade, said. "They are aware of our culture like making it theirs, being respectful. It means a lot."
Both moms also said it's impactful for students to see their school supports their religion as well.
"It’s amazing," Osman said. "I don’t have a word to describe it, but it’s wonderful feelings."
Guglielmi said she hopes the district customizes hijabs with the logos of all of its schools for students across Columbus.
