2021-2022 Annual Report

At The Island School we work intentionally to honor a variety of cultures throughout our school year. While we recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, the learning is not confined to one day. In third grade students study the Northwest Native Coast and in fourth and fifth grades children learn about the impact of the Suquamish people on Bainbridge Island as well as the native tribes of Washington State. And, of course, as a whole school we spend the month of March studying the culture of another country during our Cultural Study.

Additionally, our staff makes an intentional effort for children to notice not just the differences but also the similarities between their culture and others. As our librarian, George, often says when comparing and contrasting our own culture to others, the goal is for children to conclude “Same same but different.”

In the bigger picture, and beyond learning about cultures, our school community is engaged in ongoing work in the areas of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). We formed a Family Equity Team and a Staff Equity Team and conducted an equity audit.

These teams and the Board of Trustees discussed how to pursue our commitment to JEDI. All agreed it is essential to confirm and articulate our beliefs in written form. Leaning on the findings from the equity audit and our core mission, we composed a JEDI Statement that clearly communicates our beliefs and actions. The JEDI Statement includes four kid-friendly pillars:

Justice - Stand up for what is right.

Equity - Everyone gets what they need to shine.

Diversity - Difference makes us stronger.

Inclusion - Embrace everyone for who they truly are.

These commitments guide our actions today and in the future. While our staff is focused on including JEDI in their teaching and looking closely at curriculum and book collections, our Board is in the process of reviewing all of our school’s policies through a JEDI lens. We view the statement as a dynamic one that will change and develop with the support and feedback of our community.