Diversity Mission Statement
At Belmont Day School, we believe that a foundation
of excellence in education is a diverse community where children
and adults understand, appreciate, and celebrate differences.
Through the process of recognizing and discussing differences,
we discover similarities, shared values, and common goals. These
shared values and goals are woven into our curriculum, which
fosters critical thinking skills and empathy in our students
and prepares them to enter a diverse world with responsibility
and pride.
Belmont Day School welcomes people of all races, religions, family
configurations, sexual orientations, economic backgrounds, and cultural
identities. We work together to nurture a community where listening, open
dialogue, humor, and respect thrive. - Adopted, 2000 -
Belmont Day School's commitment to diversity is central to the strength of its educational program – a program that is dedicated to academic excellence and intellectual discipline where students feel secure, experience the joys of learning, and know their accomplishments are valued. Continued support of diversity initiatives is overseen by the Braiding Different Strands Diversity Committee, which is composed of trustees, parents and faculty. This group takes a leadership role in helping to make the school a place where equity and justice prevail.
By representing all constituencies within the community, the committee works collaboratively with the head of school and the board of trustees to enhance open dialogue and cooperative actions that further the diversity mission. The committee has created a collection of library materials; has organized book groups, workshops, and diversity training for faculty, parents, and students; and has invited speakers to the school to discuss a variety of diversity-related topics.
Currently, the committee oversees a number of task force groups that are working on specific projects. The current focus of these task forces are:
- Making a connection with a Boston inner city school to connect faculty and students in mutual community building and service projects
- Creating an instrument to assess the strength of our diversity efforts
Developing new avenues of outreach to the wider community in Boston and beyond in order to recruit new faculty and staff of color
- Organizing the biennial Children’s International Festival, a tradition begun in the fall of 2000
We are excited about the possibilities ahead of us and look forward to our work together as we strengthen our efforts to educate, evaluate, engage, and listen to one another. The social aspects of building a diverse community will parallel the tougher conversations we must have so that our commitment continues to grow.
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