School of the Holy Child Diversity Mission Statement

According to School of the Holy Child’s general Mission Statement, our students are taught “to value diversity and become active participants in a global world as ‘women of conscience and action.’” This educational philosophy has its roots in the School’s founder, Cornelia Connelly, who stressed the importance of valuing the inherent talents of every individual, as well as fostering a sense of social responsibility and respect. As she said, “we are cosmopolitans; the world is our country.”

As an educational and spiritual community, Holy Child strives to establish and maintain a culture that welcomes and nurtures individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences, as we believe this will encourage a respectful and rich intellectual environment. As a School, we actively embrace differences in age, ethnicity, gender, learning style, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic class. We seek to create a community that reflects diversity in the student body, faculty and administration.

Diversity Initiatives at School of the Holy Child

Educational Programming

In keeping with the mission of the School, Holy Child’s curriculum reflects the importance of diverse voices and perspectives in the intellectual development of our students. The Middle School S.E.L.F. program and the Upper School Human Relations courses encourage interpersonal respect and awareness; courses in Ethics and Social Justice explore these important issues as well. However, the general academic curriculum strives to offer students a diverse sense of the world, through global literature, modern languages, and history. Extra-curricular opportunities, including world travel, ensure students can pursue activities that engage them intellectually and broaden their point of view.

Diversity Programming

To promote diversity issues, Holy Child’s administration, faculty and students actively engage in a number of programs:

CAMBIAS: This student-centered diversity club works within the School and in the broader community to raise awareness and promote cultural exchange and dialogue.

People of Color Conference (POCC): Holy Child students and faculty attend this annual celebration of diversity, and students are encouraged to bring what they have learned and experienced back to the larger Holy Child community.

Global Gatherings: This biannual celebration of diversity at Holy Child brings together families of color to talk about diversity at the School, raise important issues and discuss ways the School could better foster and nurture families and students with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Diversity Day: Each November the entire Holy Child community devotes a full day to exploring and celebrating cultural diversity through a variety of activities and events.

Faculty Recruitment

School of the Holy Child actively recruits faculty, staff and administration of diversity through participation in diversity recruitment fairs, as well as through our association with the Independent School Diversity Network (ISDN).

Diversity Coordinator

The Diversity Coordinator supports the school’s mission to create and sustain an inclusive community which ensures that all students, faculty and staff feel supported and valued; the coordinator facilitates Holy Child’s diversity programming and committee work.

If you have any questions regarding our diversity initiatives please contact Diversity Coordinator Lulu Sandes at: l.sandes@holychildrye.org .