For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12
At Arlington Catholic, our shared humanity and belief that each of us is created in the image and likeness of God call us to promote a safe environment for students to have open, respectful conversations about race, class, sex, politics, current events, and social justice. We recognize that all people experience the world through individual lenses, and actively strive to advance understanding, justice and belonging for all people.
In 2020, we begin a school-wide, programmatic commitment to cultivating diversity, inclusion, and belonging for all. We will work to empower others within the Arlington Catholic community to prioritize this extended mission as a key practice in their classrooms, on the field, the stage, and in all areas of school life.
Our school community is called to living the Gospel message of Christ in the 21st century. It is in the spirit of that message -- love one another -- that we offer spirit-building events and activities that contribute to a vibrant, inclusive school culture, and build bridges to understanding, compassion, and empathy. Throughout the year, student leadership groups and other groups will sponsor events that promote diversity, inclusivity, and belonging both on our campus and in the extended community.
Faculty and staff will attend professional development and training that focuses on providing education on diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, equity, and social justice, as well as best practices for faculty, staff, and administrators within the context of our Catholic mission.
Types of PD may include:
Formal: outside expert speakers and trainers; books, OP-Docs, films, and article talks, workshops, and activities facilitated by in-house faculty
Informal: optional small group, community-building experiential learning (i.e. attending plays, art exhibits, films, concerts followed by informal discussion)
Independent : teachers are encouraged to seek prof. development opportunities during the course of the school year and over the summer.
In order to help students develop empathy we must provide opportunities for them to be seen, to be heard, and to serve others. To that end, we will ensure that there are opportunities to acknowledge, engage, and uplift diverse student voices, and will provide education centered around issues of diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and social justice.
Each department’s statement of philosophy includes language that reflects the school mission and its commitment to equity. Course offerings, content, and pedagogy must constantly evolve in order to best serve our students in this constantly changing world. Each department will ensure that its curriculum includes diverse voices and perspectives, reflects pedagogy that speaks to diverse learning styles, and provides a safe space for dialogue.
We call our students to evolve into people of character who take responsibility for their mistakes, learn from them, and ultimately find peace in reconciliation. Students as well as faculty and staff must have a safe space to discuss issues of inequity that arise in or affect school life. AC commits to not allowing for any violation of students’ rights, responsibilities, and dignity -- whether written, verbal or via social media. Offenders will receive anti-bias education, and be referred to administration for corrective action on a case-by-case basis. Students who report incidents may be referred to guidance for mental/emotional health support services.
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