Historical Context
Our school was imagined in the early 2000s and became a reality in 2007. It was established by a group of visionary individuals who aimed to eliminate the financial barriers to an excellent education and to bring together families from all socioeconomic backgrounds in the Denver metro area.
By promoting critical thinking, setting high expectations, offering a relevant and responsive curriculum, and fostering positive identity development, we strive to empower all students to find their voice and make a difference.
Purpose
The Equity and Belonging Statement defines our community’s principles for interactions and decision-making. It reaffirms our commitment to intentional inclusivity, serving as both a standard for accountability and a vision for the future, ensuring equitable treatment and a sense of belonging for every community member.
We… |
Therefore, we… |
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Believe one's zip code should not determine access or quality of education |
Provide a sliding-scale tuition model that removes financial barriers for all students. |
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View education as a tool for liberation |
Integrate social justice into every class through professional development opportunities for teachers, representation in class materials, having a diverse school library, centering student voice in curriculum, etc. |
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Empower all students to find their voice to influence positive change |
Offer leadership opportunities for our students with community organizations and partnerships, both internally and externally. |
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Assert that students should see themselves reflected in their school |
Ensure that our students, teachers, staff, caretakers, and community members reflect the diversity of the world we live in. Hire and retain qualified educators and staff from historically marginalized communities such as BIPOC, LGBT2QIA+, immigrants, first-generation college students, those who are neurodivergent, and those with disabilities. |
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Recognize that representation matters and cultural experiences are important |
Display artwork around the building that vividly portrays cultures, traditions, languages, and religions and bring in diverse books, celebrations, and guests. |
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Embrace discomfort and value diverse voices as essential to fostering positive change |
Encourage students and adults to actively participate in challenging conversations regarding privilege and oppression. |
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Believe young people can be the best teachers for each other |
Spur students of all ages to collaborate and formulate plans for effecting change within their communities and the world. |
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Hold each other accountable for upholding our community values |
Create a clear and transparent code of conduct with input from students, teachers, and caretakers. |
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Affirm that the strength of our community lies in the unique stories and experiences of its members |
Actively ensure that every child is known, every voice is heard, and all know they belong. |
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Maintain that first languages should not be a barrier to access |
Provide translation services for families who are bilingual or multilingual. |
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Celebrate the diversity of our community’s identities and experiences, which make our community powerful |
Honor our students’, families’, and staculty’s unique identities and cultures by hosting affinity spaces and providing opportunities for our community to engage in equity & belonging work. |
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Collaborate with mission-aligned institutions that stand for equity, belonging, and inclusivity to work towards more systemic equity |
St. Elizabeth’s strives to work with businesses, vendors, and service providers whose values reflect our commitment to inclusivity. |
