Diversity and Inclusion
A diverse community is not a destination, it's a conscious, ever-deepening process of:
- Infusing diverse voices and perspectives within the curriculum
- Ensuring that students’ voices are respected and respectful
- Fostering curiosity about and respect for others within our community
- Creating a safe space where differences are accepted, explored and understood
- Challenging preconceptions and prejudices
- Allocating resources to admit and retain students who will enrich the diversity of the student community
- Allocating resources to recruit and retain teachers, administrators, and staff who will enrich the diversity of the community
Executing on these goals fundamentally enriches the education of every student on our campus.
Community Wide Protocol for Microaggressions
In the 2022-2023, the Kirby community was educated on the RIR Protocol for addressing microaggressions. This protocol is a tool out of Compassionate Dialogue™, which is a strategy and a way to engage with others through the lens of compassion. “Rather than trying to label someone as wrong, shame them, or prove your point, the goal is to understand one another and then come to a resolution together.”- Nancy A Dome (Epoch Education/Let’s Talk about Race and Hard Things).
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Kirby began celebrating and engaging in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day during the 2022-2023 school year. We will make this an annual community event and hope you plan to join us on November 14, 2023! In 2018, a group of fifth graders in the South San Francisco Unified School District were so inspired by Ruby's courage that they advocated to make November 14th Ruby Bridges Day. With the help of the San Mateo County Office of Education, their dream became a reality. In September 2021, the California State Senate passed a resolution proclaiming November 14th as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day! Click HERE to see the resolution.
When I came to Kirby, I realized that Kirby has an entirely different kind of community and mindset than I was used to. I was accepted for who I was. Not only was I accepted; I was valued. At Kirby, there is no right way to be and no right way to think. It’s only important that you think.Kirby 8th Grader
Training Staff
During the 2022-2023 school year, we began using this text as a resource for planning professional development around DEI Initiatives for our faculty and staff.
Spanish Language Translation Team
All major communications (including the weekly newsletter) are available to families in both Spanish and English thanks to our Translation Team: Yakira Landaverry and Fatima Zavala-Ruiz.