An Update on Next Steps: June 10, 2020
An Update on Next Steps: June 10, 2020
From the All-School Email From Director of Student Life & Diversity Meg Aumann
Now more than ever, it is essential that we use our collective voices to ensure that Dawson is a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and cared for. Dawson’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion cohort (JEDI), which consists of over 20 faculty and staff, met with the School’s leadership team to begin actively addressing these issues immediately and in the days to come.
From the All-School Email From Director of Student Life & Diversity Meg Aumann
Now more than ever, it is essential that we use our collective voices to ensure that Dawson is a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and cared for. Dawson’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion cohort (JEDI), which consists of over 20 faculty and staff, met with the School’s leadership team to begin actively addressing these issues immediately and in the days to come.
We must continue the ongoing journey of anti-racism and cultural competency. In the next several weeks and months you will begin to see various initiatives take place, led by JEDI members:
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- New Webpage: We invite you to visit this page on our website, where our team has curated anti-racism education resources including articles, books, videos, and podcasts. We will continue to add links and resources as we learn more.
- Family Read-Alouds: Starting next week, Dawson faculty will provide a weekly recorded book reading that features anti-bias/anti-racist children’s books throughout the summer. Each reading will also provide reflection questions regarding identity, history, race, and more, to help guide these important discussions at home. Look for these videos on social media and here on our website.
- Parent Education: As we enter the 2020-2021 school year, we will use the Nearpod platform to facilitate personal identity work for parents and to provide helpful language for conversations about race and racism. Further, mid-year we will use the Padlet platform to share resources and an online space for reflection, comments, and discussion.
- Professional Development: Dawson faculty and staff will continue to better educate ourselves and participate in training during our August Teacher Academy and throughout the year, as we focus on supporting our students and families, reinforcing our commitment to unifying the school-wide focus of social and self-awareness, and creating an inclusive, welcoming, and affirming community.
- Affinity Groups: Faculty and staff affinity groups are meeting over the summer, providing safe spaces to hold one another accountable for behaviors, support one another emotionally, help to build inclusive language, augment strength, and deepen unity.
The Alexander Dawson School
The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain, an independent school located on 33-acres in the community of Summerlin, is Nevada’s first Stanford University Challenge Success partner school for students in early childhood through grade eight. Utilizing the unique Challenge Success framework, Dawson uses research-based strategies and programs that emphasize student academics, wellbeing, and a healthy school-life balance to create more engaged, motivated, and resilient learners and leaders. At Dawson, students achieve their individual potential while savoring life and meeting the challenges of the world.