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Cultural Competency & Inclusion

At Savannah Country Day, we believe in the transformative power of education that goes beyond textbooks and classrooms. Our commitment to cultural competency and inclusion is at the heart of our educational philosophy. We strive to create a vibrant and nurturing environment where every student feels a profound sense of belonging, and we are committed to cultivating a community where all experiences, backgrounds, identities, and abilities are valued and respected. Through a range of inclusive initiatives and programs, we create an atmosphere where each student feels seen, heard, and empowered to thrive academically and personally. 
Lower School

Lower School students participate in monthly initiatives focused on cultural awareness, self-awareness and empathy. The 3rd-5th grade students put on an annual multi-cultural potluck. Students experience various food tastings, cultural traditions, games, and more.

Middle School

Student Diversity Club: Middle School is an opportune place for students to foster and engage in dialogue related to Cultural Competency and Inclusion. This important dialogue brings awareness to issues in the Middle School and provides solutions and strategies to navigate these issues. 

Upper School

Our Upper School club, Students Celebrating Diversity, brings awareness to the larger SCDS community. Every year we send a cohort of students to the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference. Students Celebrating Diversity adhere to the following goals:

We educate ourselves and the greater community; create an environment that welcomes open and honest dialogues among everyone; emphasize empathy, tolerance, and acceptance; and work toward ending macro and microaggressions.

The 2024 Multicultural Festival featured a wide range of food and activities from the various cultures represented at Country Day. 

News & Happenings

2025 Multicultural Festival

This year’s Multicultural Festival was a vibrant celebration of the many cultures that make up our Country Day community. Organized by the Students Celebrating Diversity (SCD) Club, the event featured colorful booths representing countries such as India, Germany, Ukraine, Korea, Macedonia, and many more. Families and students of all ages enjoyed sharing traditions, tasting food, and learning about customs from around the world. The festival continues to grow each year and the Students Celebrating Diversity Club deserves a huge congratulations for hosting such a positive event. 

Celebrating Women's History Month with Faculty Interviews

In honor of Women's History Month, our Students Celebrating Diversity Club sat down with a group of Country Day faculty and staff for a series of meaningful interviews. Reflecting on their personal journeys, these educators shared their accomplishments, challenges, and the inspiring women who have shaped their lives and careers. Kudos to senior Henry Dickerson for filming and editing THIS VIDEO compilation of the interviews!

Greek Heritage Celebration

Our 5th graders recently concluded their unit on ancient Greece with the 3rd annual Greek Heritage Celebration. As part of their social studies curriculum, students used books, databases, and online resources to research topics such as architecture, daily life, art, and the Olympics. They organized their findings into presentations that they delivered to their peers, then they applied their understanding of mythology by reimagining Greek myths that they then performed for their class. The students also engaged in different hands-on activities such as learning traditional greek dances and sampling Greek food. This interdisciplinary project provided a meaningful connection between research, history, and performance.

Black History Month Kickoff

To honor February as Black History Month, the Black Student Union led a game from "Friendly Feud" in Upper School assembly. Students and Faculty competed against one another in a lively trivia challenge filled with questions about iconic Black figures and historical events, sparking both fun and meaningful conversations. The event highlighted the importance of Black history while uniting the community together in a spirit of learning and camaraderie

Lunar New Year Celebrations

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, each division explored the holiday’s rich history and cultural significance through different activities. Our Students Celebrating Diversity Club and Upper School Cultural Competency and Inclusion Coordinator visited The Little School to read educational books, while students there also crafted masks to mark the transition from the Year of the Dragon to the Year of the Snake. In the Lower School, students who celebrate at home shared traditional snacks and activities with their classmates. Meanwhile, Upper School advisories created paper lanterns, which were later hung around campus as a festive tribute.

Global Getdown

Global Getdown is a student-submitted video series highlighting the cultural/religious heritage of some of our families. Click the link below to view the Global Getdown videos.

Global Getdown Videos 2024-2025

Global Getdown Videos 2023-2024

Global Getdown Videos 2022-2023

In accordance with our mission, core beliefs, and strategic plan, we seek to foster and affirm a diverse and inclusive community at Savannah Country Day School.  Members of this community reflect varied and multi-faceted backgrounds and identities and acknowledge these differences with sensitivity and respect.  This community is critical to nurturing a sense of belonging in each student and inspiring lifelong intellectual and personal growth in all.

Meet the CCI Team

Karen Brown

Director of Cultural Competency and Inclusion

Sara Bocanegra

Middle School Spanish Teacher (6th & 7th Grade), Middle School Cultural Competency & Inclusion Co-Coordinator

Merritt Graves

Lower School Music Teacher, Lower School Cultural Competency & Inclusion Coordinator

Randall Martinez

Upper School History Teacher & Cultural Competency & Inclusion Coordinator

Allison Phillips

Middle School Counselor & Cultural Competency & Inclusion Coordinator

Jennifer Sams

Little School Teacher, Little School Cultural Competency & Inclusion Coordinator, Little School Cultural Competency and Inclusion Coordinator

At SCDS we understand the importance of celebrating our similarities while also recognizing that we are human individuals with diverse identities, including, but not limited to:
- ethnicity
- nationality

- age
- gender identity
- ability
- race
- religion
- sexual orientation
- family structure
- socioeconomic status