Diversity, Community, and Belonging

The Middle School offers a broad range of venues in which students can engage in this essential work of learning about themselves and about the world in which they live.  The foundation is built upon a rich academic program that promotes cultural understanding, critical thinking, consideration of multiple and divergent perspectives, and creative collaboration.  The Middle School Advisory Program presents a more intimate, grade-level setting in which DEIB-focused activities and discussions are scheduled throughout the year.  Finally, both our weekly Community Assembly and Meeting For Worship (MFW) times often include topics and themes that connect to the goals of our DEIB work.  There are plentiful optional opportunities for our Middle School students to be engaged, as well.  This includes a dynamic, student-led Diversity Club, a Pride Alliance, and several affinity groups (modeled on our successful Upper School program) that gather students with a faculty mentor who all share a common aspect of identity in order to build mutual support and find inspiration to reach our full potential.  In guiding these efforts, the Middle School Director and Dean of Students work closely with our Middle School Diversity Coordinator and the MFS Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.

Dan So-Schoos, Middle School Diversity Coordinator

In the Upper School at MFS, DEIB work is a student-driven partnership. The faculty provides a rich academic foundation ripe with many different options in both major and minor courses. The curriculum has a focus on learning from a plethora of different perspectives – lived experiences, affirming identities, highlighting different facets of history, shedding light on underserved and undervalued identities. The Upper School advisory program is focused on fostering interpersonal connections, centering our Quaker values, passionate student-led discussion, and various thought-provoking and engaging activities. We deepen our roots in our Quaker values during our weekly Meeting for Worship which is typically led by our Upper School Worship Planning Committee, but is sometimes co-led with various other clubs and organizations. Of the nearly 30 clubs and 13 Affinity Groups, many of them talk about their affinities, uphold their allyship, and express their interests. All of the Clubs and Affinity Groups are student-led with faculty advisors to help facilitate or to give vocabulary, and most importantly, to learn about the student experience directly from the source. There are additional times that we all come together, such as Assemblies, Community Times, and special traditions (for example the International Day of Peace, or Friendship Day) where we can connect and broaden our horizons. DEIB work in the Upper School is a team effort with the Upper School Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Coordinator, the MFS Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, the US representatives from the Parent/Guardian DEIB Council, students, faculty, staff, and families. Together this team hopes to create and to maintain a sense for every member of the Upper School community to feel as if they belong.

Mary Anne Henderson, Director of Diversity, Community, and Belonging