Diversity and Inclusiveness

Guiding Principles for a Diverse, Inclusive and Socially Responsible Community

Saint Mark's School believes that educational excellence and justice demand a diverse, inclusive and socially responsible community. By choosing Saint Mark’s, families commit to inclusiveness and fairness, in keeping with the school’s Seven Pillars of Character. We, the school community, support the following guiding principles reflecting our identity and mission:

1. All people, as their right, deserve respect, appreciation, and equal opportunity regardless of differences in ability, age, ethnicity, home language, family make-up, gender, physical attributes, race, religion, thoughts and beliefs, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.
2. The composition of our school community should reflect the diversity and multicultural composition of the increasingly global community in which we live.
3. We stand for the courage to condemn and resist the prejudices and acts of those who wound others with intolerance.
4. We accept and reinforce the obligations that arise from education and citizenship in a democratic society, including the responsibility to serve one’s community and to contribute to the betterment of the human condition.
5. Saint Mark’s goal in this effort is to be a leader in the pursuit of inclusiveness, understanding and equity. Joy, enrichment and compassion spring from celebrating the diversity of the human community and from learning about the families, cultures, traditions and beliefs of others.

These principles replace School Policy 1104 on Diversity. They were passed by Board of Trustees on May 27, 2003.