Diversity and Inclusion
Embracing and celebrating diversity is a core piece of the foundation upon which our school culture is built. It’s extremely important to us that the makeup of the student body, staff, and governing board be reflective of the wide diversity within South Orange and Maplewood. However, we know that simply having a diverse community isn’t enough; inclusion and equity need to be paramount when establishing a culture around diversity.
At Weekday we do not shy away from topics centered about race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, neurotype, learning styles, and family makeup. We know that when young people are supported and encouraged in having these discussions openly, they grow into adults that hold far fewer stereotypes and prejudices than their counterparts. Our students discuss their own identities, the identities of the people they care about, and the identities of those they do not yet know. We all learn together and the children understand that we’re all on the same team and our differences are something to embrace.
Our curriculum focuses deeply on equality movements throughout history that have brought great change in the fight for justice, and they are empowered to continue the fight in ways that feel important to them. Conversations around diversity allow space to learn about fairness and the rules we need to live by in our society. Our students learn about who benefits from those rules and who is at a disadvantage. We want our students to understand what it means to be an ally and to show how to have compassion for all.
