Here is our school’s vision for DEIJ, created last school year following input from students, staff and the parent community. It is our dream for now and in to the future:

Mother Tongue Week at LCS
Our annual Mother Tongue Week is fast approaching, during the week of Feb 17-21st, building up to our famous International Festival Day on Saturday 22nd February. Although these times are not the only time in the school calendar that we celebrate the diverse community of languages spoken at LCS, taking the time to focus on this is important to all of us. The purpose of Mother Tongue Week is to honor and celebrate the rich linguistic diversity of our school community, promote cultural sharing and interaction, and foster a sense of belonging and appreciation for students’ mother tongues. The program will run through the Secondary School advisory time and within class time in the Elementary School. It will feature students speaking, reading and writing in their mother tongues. Many parents have volunteered to come into school during that week to also honor and value their mother tongues. Thank you!

Career Mobility Professional Learning Program for our Teaching Assistants
Two years ago, when we implemented our listening circles initiative, it became clear that for some of our local teaching assistants, advancing themselves as professional educators has many barriers. For this reason, we have developed our own home-grown professional development program for those who are wanting to advance their career mobility. The program is being led by our MYP Coordinator, Amber Rhinehart and ES Deputy Principal/PYP Coordinator, Natalie Kramer.

NeuroDiversity–what is this and how is working with our neuro-diverse students?
Neurodiversity is a term that describes the cognitive differences between how people think, learn and behave. There is no single, correct way for a brain to function. Neurodiversity honors each person’s unique perspectives and experiences without judgment. Over the past 2-3 years, LCS has strengthened the way we support students who may learn differently. Alexis Smith, our Student Support Services Coordinator, will be leading a session for parents on this important topic on Friday 31 January, at 8.15 a.m. in the Nilee Meeting Room.

DEIJ for B Parent Advisory Group Update

Dear LCS Community,

We are excited to share updates on what we have been working on, celebrate some successes, and invite you to join us in helping our school be a welcoming place for everyone.

The Parent Advisory Group works to give feedback and support to the Head of School and school leadership. We focus on making sure LCS is a place where everyone feels they belong. This means we want all students and families to feel included, no matter how different we are from each other. If you have ideas or want to help with a project to make the school more inclusive, please email us at [email protected].

To learn more about the work we’ve done, visit the DEIJB section (tile) in the school app. You can also see the school’s DEIJB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice for Belonging) goals that are part of the school’s 3-year strategic plan. You can find the plan on the school website here. The Belonging section of the strategic plan starts on page 12.

Highlights

• School Calendar: In partnership with the PTO and the Head of School, we gathered parent feedback on next year’s school calendar. The hope is to ensure big school events/activities don’t fall on holidays or religious days that might limit or stop some students and families from participating. This is a big step toward making our events welcoming for everyone.

• Elevator Access: After advocating for increased accessibility, we’re thrilled to report that elevator access is now available for parents and families attending events on upper floors of school buildings. This makes it easier for everyone to join school events, regardless of physical ability. We are working with the school to communicate more detail on who families should contact ahead of time or while on campus when they need the elevator.

Belonging in Action | We recognize and thank the following community members who demonstrated what it takes to foster connection and belonging.

• Counselor Christina McDade: We want to thank Ms. Christina for her thoughtful work during university counseling events. Her insightful questions and proactive communication have bridged gaps between parents of non-traditional students and visiting universities. Her work made these events more impactful and welcoming.

• Jacklyn Nguyen and the Maker Space: Ms. Jacklyn has done amazing work in the Maker Space by inviting local artisans to work with students and families. This has brought the school and the community closer together, while fostering a deeper appreciation for creativity/crafts.

• George Abogbampo and Sports Leadership: We appreciate the efforts of our Physical Education and Athletics Director, Mr. George, who (with support from the High School Principal Jen Hager) listened to parents about sports team concerns. There are now standard procedures for selecting team captains and deciding which students will play on Varsity, Junior Varsity, and WAISAL teams. This should improve transparency and communication with student-athletes and their families. Their responsiveness underscores the school’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

Upcoming Activities

Monthly Parent Meeting – We invite all parents and families to join our monthly meetings, held on the second Wednesday of each month at 8:30 AM. You can join in person in the Akyedee Conference Room or online at this Google Meets Link. These meetings are a great way to share your ideas, meet other parents, ask for help, and hear about what we are working on.

Annual Community Survey – Each year (usually in April or May), the school conducts an anonymous community survey to collect feedback from parents and families. This survey helps guide immediate and future planning for the school – it is very important and impactful as results are reviewed by school leadership and the board. There is a section dedicated to belonging, along with other important areas like academic rigor and support for students. To see the progress made, as well as areas the school continues to work on, you can find the last year’s report in the school app’s DEIJB section or directly at this link:

We ask that you participate when the announcement is made that the survey is open – this typically happens via the Grade Whatsapp Groups, the Weekly Friday Notices in the LCS App, and a direct email message from the Head of School, Ms. Lesley. We would love to see an increase in parent/family participation this year! Your participation is vital in helping LCS grow stronger and stronger!

Call for Volunteers

Are you passionate about making LCS a welcoming place where everyone feels they truly belong? Join the DEIJ-for-B Parent Advisory Group! Whether you can come to meetings, help plan events, or share ideas, we would love to have you. The only experience or expertise required is that you care about belonging at LCS! Volunteering is flexible, and your help makes a big difference.
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Thank you for your support! Together, we are helping LCS become a more connected and inclusive school. Your voice matters, and we are here to listen.
Warm regards,

Parent Advisory Group
Email: [email protected]
Next Meeting: February 14, 2024, at 8:30 AM (in-person or online at http://meet.google.com/pmb-bcih-frv)