Community
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are integral to Country School's mission, history and forward-thinking practices. We believe learning is at its best when students are exposed to stories and events that are different from their own.
The work of diversity and inclusion introduces healthy discourse, increases our communication skills and provides platforms for conversation. These relationships will ultimately lead to a productive and enlightened school environment.
At Country School, we practice mindfulness, and learning and sharing as a means to connect and grow as an institution. We value the diverse experiences our families bring to our school community and work to provide a space in which all voices can be heard. We practice an ethic of listening for greater understanding. Our professional growth and development programs for the adult community, supports an expectation that we will seek both national conferences and workshops, as well as leverage the resources that we are fortunate to employ from our talented faculty and staff.
Our professional community believes that there is always something to learn. Our ongoing engagement with outside professional development facilitates a network of informative people and perspectives with an external lens. In addition, our internal teams offer a broad range of expertise including our Faculty Diversity and Service Learning committees; Learning Resources team; and accessing the special interests and talents of our parent community. The work of diversity and inclusion introduces healthy discourse, increases our communication skills and provides platforms for conversation. These relationships will ultimately lead to a productive and enlightened school environment.
Country School offers a number of vehicles to support a culture of inclusion. Some of the initiatives we have in place include:
- Annual participation in the CAIS, Student Diversity Leadership Conference (Grades 7-12)
- Annual selected delegation to the NAIS People of Color Conference for faculty and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (Grade 9)
- Parents' Association Resource Groups – Mothers at Work; Parents of Students of Color; Global Citizens; Allergy; and the PA is prepared to respond to the needs of the community should new resource groups be proposed.
- Middle School – Upper School: Cultural Awareness for Everyone (CAFE) clubs
- Renowned speaker opportunities
- Ongoing faculty training
- Formal and informal teachable moment platforms for adults and students
- Relationship-building programs with Horizons
- Student-led classroom Buddies program
We welcome ideas and thoughts as we work to build a vibrant, inclusive and diverse school culture.
Parents' Association Resource Groups
List of 4 items.
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Allergy
The Allergy Resource Group helps parents connect, share advice and garner information about allergy-related events, exchange experiences and ultimately find support. The group’s mission is to be a resource to individuals and families living with allergies. -
Global Citizens
Global Citizens focuses on creating an engaged community of NCCS parents who have international interests and/or backgrounds. The group organizes events that will build connections for parents and their children to the broader global community. -
Mothers at Work
The Mothers at Work group helps connect working moms to the school, each other and the Country School community at large. The group comes together during the year to share their unique experiences, provide a forum for networking and support and to discuss ways to leverage their collective talents to support the school’s mission. -
Parents of Students of Color
The Parents of Students of Color group provides a place of reflection, dialogue and support. The group meets several times each year to facilitate positive identity exploration and development that will help achieve the larger goal of creating an inclusive and thriving environment for the entire community.
List of 1 members.
Diversity Liaisons
Diversity Liaisons, L to R: Digital Communications Manager Moina Noor, Fifth Grade Teacher Andrew Bevan, Fourth Grade Teacher Maria Sette ’92, Upper School Latin Teacher Hannah Liu, Horizons Family and Program Director Nehemie Moise, Kindergarten Teacher Jessica McKinney.
Inclusion Mission Statement
Our students will live in a world more diverse and interdependent than that of any previous generation. At New Canaan Country School, we believe that helping students to understand and attain their intellectual, creative, moral and physical potential means, among other things, preparing them for responsible citizenship in such a world. The school is committed to the development of compassionate people who value and respect our common humanity. We believe that an inclusive school community invites greater academic and personal success and strengthens a sense of belonging. We strive to create an environment where each member feels comfortable and accepted and where differences and commonalities are appreciated in equal measure.
-Revised 2015
-Revised 2015
Parents' Association Contact
Michelle Salvidar
PA Executive Council
VP, Community, Diversity & Inclusion
DEI News
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Ninth Grader Leaders Attend Virtual Diversity Conference
Six Country School ninth graders attended the national Student Diversity Leadership (SDLC) conference held Nov. 30-Dec. 4, which allowed them to connect with students from across the country virtually.Read More -
Upper School Student Reflects on Hispanic Heritage
Read MoreAlthough Hispanic Heritage Month is officially behind us, we had one more reflection to share, this time from a student on his Hispanic identity and its importance to him and his family. We will continue to periodically publish pieces that invite you all to “see” our community fully. Please enjoy this piece from Daniel Marin in 8th grade. - Kojo Clarke, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion -
Eric Woolworth ’80 to Receive New Canaan Country School’s 2020 Alumni Award
Read MoreNew Canaan Country School is pleased to announce that Eric Woolworth ’80 will be presented with the 2020 Alumni Award. Eric is scheduled to accept the honor and share with students, alumni and guests highlights of his career in professional basketball and as a leader in diversity and inclusion initiatives Friday, Oct. 30, live via an online platform.
“We look forward to welcoming Eric back to campus, albeit virtually, and to have him share his experience and wisdom with our students,” said Head of School Aaron Cooper. The Alumni Award is presented each year to honor an alumna or alumnus who has had “the courage and confidence to make a positive contribution to the world.” -
What Does Hispanic Heritage Mean to Me?
Isadora Machado, a staff member, reflects on the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month. Isadora Machado is a very familiar face to Country School, having worked at Country School from 2003-2010 in many roles including Kindergarten Apprentice and Art Teacher, and Lower and Middle School Spanish Teacher. She also continues to be an integral member of the Horizons teaching team since 2003. This year, Isadora joins us as a Plus Program Assistant primarily working with Beginners 4/5.Read More
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Country School Holds Virtual Sixth Annual Kyle A. Markes Day of Service
Read MoreMembers of the New Canaan Country School and Horizons at NCCS communities served the wide-ranging needs of more than 10 local non-profit organizations April 3 and 4. Students and their families were participating in the sixth annual Kyle A. Markes Day of Service in honor of an NCCS classmate who passed away in 2013. In a unique twist, this year volunteers performed their service virtually, online or in their own homes. View photos. -
Country School Community Honors Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read MoreNew Canaan Country School celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with age-appropriate curricular activities, reflections and gatherings, culminating in divisional assemblies held Jan. 16 and 17. -
Country School Hosts Award-Winning Poet Naomi Shihab Nye
New Canaan Country School welcomed Young People’s Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab for two days of writer’s workshops, assemblies, poetry readings and activities for student writers and poetry enthusiasts of all ages, Nov. 4 and 5. Organized by the school’s Parents’ Association and Upper School English and History Teacher Will McDonough, Ms. Nye’s visit kicked off the pre-K through grade 9 school’s annual Festival of Books, a week-long event which celebrates literacy.Read More -
First Graders Celebrate Lunar New Year at Country School
New Canaan Country School first graders have been studying China throughout the year, so they were brimming with excitement Feb. 7 at a special Lunar New Year assembly, complete with a traditional dragon parade, handmade noisemakers, and the banging of a gong, to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rat. View photos.Read More -
Fourth Graders Celebrate American Indian Culture & History
Read MoreFourth graders spent the first half of their year immersed in the rich culture of the many local American Indian* tribes and shared a small sample of their learning experience through a land acknowledgment, dance, and storytelling at an assembly earlier this week. View photos. View video. -
Author, Illustrator and Past Parent Jerry Craft Visits Country School
When school librarian Mary Ann Lansdale introduced Jerry Craft, past parent and author of “New Kid,” to an audience of Middle School students, she asked who had read his book. The majority of hands flew up.Read More -
Global Citizens Group Discuss Stereotypes at Book Read
On Sunday, Jan. 28, a group of students and parents met in the lobby of Grace House for a winter-time book read of "It Ain't So Awful Falafel."Read More -
Country School Community Honors Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Country School community took time this week to reflect upon the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the enduring themes of his life’s work and the courage it takes to envision the way things could be.Read More -
Country School Names Horizons Scholars
New Canaan Country School has named Christopher Santa, Maria Flores and Amira El Hattab as the 2017-2018 Horizons Scholars. They will attend New Canaan Country School this fall as fifth, sixth and eighth graders, respectively, and have been participants in the Horizons Program at New Canaan Country School for several years.Read More -
Parents of Students of Color Start Year with Barbeque
A great time was had by all as new and returning families came together at the Parents of Students of Color Family Potluck to celebrate the beginning of the new school year. The air was filled with the laughter of children as they swam in the pool, swung on the swings and played games in the yard. The parents enjoyed themselves as they watched the children play, reconnected with old friends and established connections with new friends.Read More -
Country School Enjoys An Evening of African Drumming and Dance
Read More“Alafia!” The joyous and vibrant musical evening last Friday night led by Infinite Roots founder Kwame Jones began with a simple African greeting of peace and blessings. More than 100 NCCS community members sang, danced and drummed after a veritable feast of African foods prepared by Country School families. -
Students Learn About Needs Close to Home
Read MoreOn a recent day in February, Country School ninth graders donned hairnets and aprons and served lunch at the New Covenant Center, a soup kitchen and food pantry in Stamford. Country School is developing what it hopes will be a long-term partnership with the non-profit organization. “It was my first time volunteering where I directly served people,” said ninth grader Andrew Butcher. “I could see the effect of what I was doing.” -
Country School Goes Bollywood
Country School’s Bollywood dance extravaganza paired music and dance to take children and adults on an exciting cultural journey. (View photos & video)Read More -
Country School 'Lights the Night' in Support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Read MoreCountry School joined hundreds of local residents for “Light the Night,” a nighttime walk to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on Saturday, Oct. 17. More than 100 students, parents, faculty and staff members walked around the Stamford Harbor holding red, gold and white lanterns in solidarity with those who have been affected by cancer. In particular, they walked to honor the memory of Country School student Kyle A. Markes who lost his battle with cancer in 2013.
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