Cultural Competency & Inclusion

As part of Cultural Diversity Week at The Little School, members of the Upper School’s Students Celebrating Diversity Club stopped by to read stories to our youngest Hornets. The students had GREAT questions and enjoyed the fun cross-divisional learning opportunity!

Thanks to seniors Leyla Patel and Lily Tran for their thoughtful presentations to both the Upper School and Middle School students about the Lunar New Year, Year of the Rabbit. Their presentations focused on the variety of ways the Lunar New Year is celebrated globally. Students also hosted a lunch later in the week to come together as a community and celebrate new beginnings. 

In commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, students of all ages participated in projects to honor Dr. King’s life and legacy. Students researched and illustrated various quotes by Dr. King and produced beautiful artwork to be displayed throughout campus.

“Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thank you to juniors Britney Brown, Phil-Isabelle Ajayi, and Maya King for creating and leading today's Black History Month presentation. As this year's Black History Month theme is "Black Health and Wellness," the student-led presentation highlighted the recent contributions of several Black American scientists and doctors, including Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, and Dr. Ben Carson. The presentation also included a video that showcased how Black History Month is celebrated around the world.

Last week, five Upper School students—Britney Brown, Phil-Isabelle Ajayi, Lily Tran, Leyla Patel, Maya King, and Rooster Bing— and four faculty members—Karen Brown, AJ Goldman, Corey Heyward, and Clare Ward—participated in the annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), and the adult counterpart, People of Color Conference (PoCC), both flagship conferences annually sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools. Attending the conferences allows the almost 8,000 participants from various independent schools across the nation to share in NAIS's commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning, and organizational development.    

During the five-day conference, Hornets attended a series of thought-provoking workshops, inspiring speakers, and affinity group spaces, all centered around the theme of “We The People: Leveraging Our Community to Preserve Our Humanity” The conferences serve as a way for Country Day students and adults to engage in an unforgettable and impactful inclusion experience, bring back to Country Day invaluable leadership and insights, and help lead the call to character and courage in the national movement of our time.  

On January 11 and 12, the organization Hate Ends Now was on campus with “The Cattle Car,” a traveling, interactive, multimedia exhibit that teaches students about the forced deportations during the Holocaust.  The Cattle car experience consisted of a 21-minute video that included testimonies of Holocaust survivors.  One of the featured Holocaust survivors, Hedy Bohm, accompanied the Cattle Car and spoke to the students during the Thursday Upper School student assembly.  Upper School students and SCDS faculty not only had the opportunity to visit the interactive exhibit and hear from Hedy Bohm, but they were also able to visit an accompanying artifact exhibit that was housed for two days in the Jelks reception area.