Celebrating our Community

–     Melinda Gates

Harbor Day’s vibrant and inclusive community has shined this school year as the DEI committee led several all-school assemblies highlighting various cultural observances and hosted an enjoyable thought-provoking parent book discussion on neurodiversity. The celebration of the cultures, customs, traditions, and languages of people in our community has played a huge part in cultivating our mission statement that states, “Harbor Day School provides an academically challenging, well-balanced education in a nurturing and inclusive family-centered environment… We celebrate diversity and traditions, value collaboration and innovation, and cherish our community and the lifelong relationships developed.” In 2021, Harbor Day School launched a Strategic Plan to help guide and move our mission forward. Core value 4 of the plan places emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The value is to foster socially responsible and empathetic students who recognize and embrace differences among the members of our society.  

 

For each special month, the DEI coordinators provide relevant and age-appropriate resources and information to support faculty and instruction. This year we followed the Department of Labor’s special observances through the national archives found here. Monthly themed slides are posted on our TV screens that are seen throughout the campus. The DEI coordinators also planned activities for several assemblies. In February, HDS Families created “quilts” of influential Black Americans as they learned about and honored their struggles and triumphs in American history. In honor of Women’s History Month, HDS families came together again to learn about neurodiversity, through Dr. Temple Grandin, who, as a woman with autism, triumphed over prejudice to become an innovator in the field of animal care. At the beginning of May, we celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) month at an all-school assembly with students and faculty saying hello in their native languages. For our last assembly of the school year, HDS Families will gather in the quad to play a game called “Common Ground.” This activity shares how everyone is unique by highlighting a special fact about themselves. It could be as simple as their favorite sport, speaking more than one language, or sharing a personal experience, such as moving from another state or country. Once that experience is shared, students snap their fingers to support that person. This is a great example of learning about similarities and differences and being proud of who you are.

 

At Harbor Day, we learn to be responsible and empathetic members of society. That starts with recognizing and celebrating the diversity that makes our world so remarkable. We're proud to be taking steps to create a more inclusive school community, and we're excited to continue our journey of growth and learning together.

 

DEI Team

 

Faculty

Joel Maki – DEI Coordinator Grades K-2

Jackie Graham – DEI Coordinator Grades 3-5

Moujan Walkow – DEI Coordinator Grades 6-8

Sylvanda Padilla – DEI Coordinator Faculty and Staff

 

Administration

Angi Evans – Head of School

Noelle Becker – Director of Communications  

Keri Hehn – Director of Admission

Susan Johnson – Director of Middle School

Melissa Mullane – Director of Lower School