Belonging
Enhancement Hero
Girls are
Amazing
You Belong Here
St. Mary's welcomes girls of all faiths and walks of life. Through Chapel and our character education program, Bridge to Caring, all girls are encouraged to grow personally and spiritually. Fostering an environment of belonging is the top priority.
At St. Mary's, everyone takes on the responsibility of creating a community where girls are valued and welcomed as members of our school community. All girls are loved here, and their differences are celebrated and embraced. As a pillar of our Episcopal identity, we value inclusiveness. Our course offerings and reading lists are intentionally designed with all girls in mind. Additionally, we use Chapel to showcase our inclusiveness. From celebrating Black History Month to sharing family Passover traditions to welcoming alumnae speakers from all over the world, we introduce the girls to people, places, and ideas beyond their lived experiences.
St. Mary’s girls are as unique as they are brilliant, and all girls belong here. From St. Mary’s Place to the Upper School, we all work hard to ensure that SMS girls are seen, safe, supported, valued, and celebrated. We are preparing today’s young women and girls to be empathetic and intellectually curious global citizens.
Belonging starts from within. Once we really see ourselves as the wonderful, beautiful, and unique human beings that we are, we can extend that sense of belonging to others.
Candid Conversations
Fireside chats provide a space for Upper School students to have honest and challenging conversations about issues impacting them. Lauren Rogers, Head of the Upper School, said she enjoys watching students lead “balanced, open, thoughtful conversations” about local, national, and international topics. “All the conversations are through the students’ voices. Faculty attend, but adults are not the leaders of the conversation—they are supporters and witnesses,” Rogers said.
Building Character
Across campus, girls can recite "The Bridge to Caring" by heart. The eight character traits are woven into everything we do. Girls learn how to show respect, responsibility, thankfulness, kindness, self-control, honesty, courage, and cooperation in their daily lives. “I love incorporating the Bridge to Caring into the curriculum because it gives girls an opportunity to shine and look for the best in others,” Lauren Mitchell, North Campus Counselor, said. “Students learn not only live the traits in their daily lives but understand that it’s equally important to recognize and celebrate those traits in their peers.”
Chapel Speakers
Our Chaplain and the student-run Chapel Committee collaborate each year to curate a diverse lineup of guest speakers for the daily Chapel. These speakers, representing a wide range of backgrounds, religions, occupations, and cultures, bring unique perspectives to our community. St. Mary’s has hosted remarkable individuals like Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, the first person in NCAA history to play in a Division I basketball game while wearing a hijab, and Dr. Charles Hughes, a professor and disability rights activist. Additionally, we are honored to welcome back several accomplished St. Mary’s alumnae who share their wisdom with our students.
Space to Connect with Others
At St. Mary’s, affinity groups serve as a vehicle to support ongoing efforts of belonging. The various groups provide a space for students to share common experiences, cultivate a sense of belonging, celebrate diversity, and educate others on the historical and cultural contributions of women and men of a variety of backgrounds, circumstances, and experiences. The overarching goal of our affinity groups ties into the Episcopal tenet of belonging.
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Belonging Statement
STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, Adopted by the Board of Trustees, September 2019
St. Mary’s Episcopal School is committed to creating, maintaining, and nurturing a diverse and inclusive educational environment. Students, families, alumnae, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences collaborate in the often challenging and courageous work of understanding and respecting each other. Our diverse school community not only furthers the goals of an excellent education but also creates an environment essential to the development of respect, responsibility, empathy, and unity. To ensure that we pursue this goal, the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force of the Board of Trustees was created in 2018. Task Force members include Board members, faculty, parents, and administrators. The group facilitates conversations and initiatives around the areas of community, curriculum, and faculty recruitment and retention.
NON-DISCRIMINATORY STATEMENT
St. Mary’s does not discriminate in its hiring process on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, political opinion, marital status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable state and federal law.
Nikki Davis
Director of Belonging