Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
SDFAS is committed to creating an environment that values diversity, inclusion, and equity for all members of its community and promotes an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
SDFAS is committed to creating an environment that values diversity, inclusion, and equity for all members of its community and promotes an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment. The diversity of thoughts, experiences, and identities strengthens our sense of community and enriches our school.
We offer a fair experience by ensuring that everyone is heard and respected in their differences and ensure that everyone has what they need to succeed. Every member of our community should feel free to be who they are and to express themselves as they wish in a judgment-free environment.
Our values highlight our ability to accomplish this mission.
SDFAS values honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior—essential virtues for developing a culture of trust and respect.
- means keeping promises and commitments to oneself and others
- means respecting oneself and others
- means always taking responsibility for one’s actions
- means honesty, truthfulness, and accuracy in words and actions
We are committed to upholding these core values in all situations and fostering an environment where each community member remains true to their principles while accepting and embracing everyone’s differences.
SDFAS welcomes new ideas, perspectives, and experiences with an open mind.
Open-mindedness…
- means seeing and being seen
- means listening and being heard
- means respecting oneself and others
- means accepting that there is always something new to learn
We foster an environment open to engaging in difficult conversations, where ideas may differ yet everyone works towards understanding and acceptance.
SDFAS values empathy and recognizes that everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences. We seek to understand and appreciate different perspectives.
Empathy…
- means showing kindness to oneself and others
- means putting oneself in another’s shoes
- means strengthening connections
- means recognizing and expressing emotions and experiences in a judgment-free space
- means welcoming and valuing both similarities and differences
- means stepping outside one’s daily realities to understand the challenges faced by community members
We foster an environment open to engaging in difficult conversations, where ideas may differ yet everyone works towards understanding and acceptance.
SDFAS values empathy and recognizes that everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences. We seek to understand and appreciate different perspectives.
We work towards creating an environment that fosters a deep sense of belonging to the community.
SDFAS values intellectual curiosity and a love of learning at all ages. We encourage intellectual exploration, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving.
Intellectual Curiosity…
- means a willingness to learn and explore the diversity of human experiences
- means asking relevant questions to understand oneself and others
- means seeking knowledge and ideas that challenge our beliefs and understanding of the world
- means bridging the gap between our own experiences and those of others
- means seeing the world with an expanded vision
We support values such as courage, curiosity, and open-mindedness, which allow for a full exploration of the richness of the world around us.
SDFAS believes in resilience and determination. We encourage our community to persevere through challenges and obstacles, which contribute to character development.
Resilience…
- means the ability to withstand the unpredictable and emerge stronger
- means approaching situations with dignity and respect
- means developing the skills needed to advocate for oneself and others
- means maintaining an open mind in difficult or new situations
We foster an environment where we are prepared to face challenges and engage in difficult situations and conversations.
Aware that this is an ongoing effort, we are committed to continuously evaluating and improving our practices and policies. Our goal is to create a judgment-free and respectful space regarding ethnic and national origin, culture, sexual orientation, age, gender, religion, individual abilities and special educational needs, as well as socioeconomic status.
Respect and dignity are the foundations of our mission. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We recognize that developing cultural competence and humility is an essential part of our work. We strive to understand and appreciate the diverse backgrounds of our community members and ensure that the values, policies, and practices of our community align with these beliefs.
Our daughter has attended SDFAS for the past three years and our time at the school has exceeded our expectations. The administration and faculty are professional, responsive, caring and incredibly hard working. The students and their families represent a wide range of diversity and culture which the school not only embraces and celebrates but has woven into its curriculum.
John M., Current SDFAS Parent
