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The New Voices Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Team aims to create a school culture that promotes an inclusive, diverse, and equitable learning environment where all students feel that they belong and that their experiences and perspectives matter.
We aim to cultivate and integrate our students’ diverse identities into every area of our school culture, providing them with opportunity for creative expression and student voice.
“Having a safe space to imagine and dream an (re)invent yourself is the first step to being happy and successful, whatever road you choose to pursue”
Ashley Bryan (1923-2022)
Important Dates:
| Feb 8, 2022 | District 15 Equity Congress |
| Feb 9, 2022 | District 15 Student Equity Congress |
| Feb 9, 2022 | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Team Meeting |
| Feb 14-18, 2022 | Respect for All Week |
| Feb 16, 2022 | Alumni Night* |
| Feb 18, 2022 | Student DEI Team Meeting |
| Mar 1, 2022 | New Voices School Pride Day* |
| Mar 4, 2022 | Student DEI Meeting |
Upcoming Student Opportunities:
New York Times Student Editorial Contest
What matters to you? The NY Times invites students to submit editorials about what matters to them.
This contest begins on March 2, 2022.
1. Choose a topic you care about, and make an argument that will persuade readers to care about that topic, too.
2. Your editorial must not exceed 450 words, so make sure your argument is focused enough that you can still make a strong case.
3. Research and gather evidence to bolster your argument, using at least one source published in The New York Times and at least one source from outside The Times.
Students ages 11 to 19 anywhere in the world attending middle or high school can participate.
Get more information here.
Diversity in the Classroom
Classroom Highlights
Our 7th graders identified social issues in their independent reading books and learned about public service announcements. For their book projects, students then wrote a paragraph that connected the issue to the book, created public service announcement posters focused on these issues, and presented them to their class.
Images above show a sample selection from 7th grade
Our Dance Majors had a special opportunity to zoom with Misty Copeland, the first African American Female Principal Dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Misty Copeland shared her experiences through a question and answer session with the New Voices dancers.
Student Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Team
Students have the opportunity to participate in furthering the equity work being done at our school by participating in conversations about current events related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as help plan community-wide diversity events.
Ms. Gonzales, a 7th grade humanities teacher, is the group advisor.
Our Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team began meeting in January and meets twice per month.
Students are working collaboratively to identify strengths and areas of improvement of the school community, in regard to diversity and inclusion.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Team Updates
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Team is a collaboration between parents, teachers and administrators. We meet monthly to discuss, identify and implement change within our school community as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
After an initial analysis of needs assessment data, we have identified sense of belonging and school community as an area of need for our students and families. In an effort to improve these areas, the DEI team has improved efforts of communication regarding social-emotional supports available to students. Additionally, we will be focusing on increasing opportunities for students and caregivers to participate in school wide events, virtually and within the classroom.
We are further engaging all students and faculty in activities to increase school pride and appreciation of our school community through school pride events and initiatives.
GSA News
The New Voices Gender and Sexuality Alliance has over 25 members across all three grades this year! GSA is a safe space for students to meet, support each other, and talk about school, life, and current events as well as participate in service-learning projects.
This month, the New Voices GSA is getting ready to participate in Respect for All Week. On Tuesday, February 15th, we will have a Pronoun Awareness Day, where the school community will have the opportunity to learn why using the correct pronouns is important and have the chance to wear a pin celebrating their own pronouns. On Thursday, February 17th, we will celebrate the LGBTQ+ members of our community and allies by giving out rainbow ribbons and flag pins.
The GSA continues to be an integral part of our community, allowing students to socialize across grades, make new friends, and discover new interests in a safe space for all students.
NEW VOICES | MS 443 