Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Diversity Statement:
Washington Episcopal School welcomes and embraces everyone’s unique identity and values individuality within our community. WES nurtures the growth of the whole child and cultivates their cultural proficiency to enter the wider world as a kind, confident, and prepared global citizen.
Welcoming Every Family, Every Story
At WES, one way that we express our Episcopal values is by celebrating all the beautiful and diverse identities within our school. We know that being a part of a richly diverse and inclusive community is essential to growing into kind, confident, and prepared adults. At our school, your child will encounter students and faculty of many ethnicities, religions, nationalities, abilities, and cultures.
The families in our community include households with same-gender parents, single parents, godparents, and grandparents. From our youngest learners to our oldest, we are proud to support our students in learning about their own identities, the varied identities that surround them, and the ways they can build a world where all people are understood and respected.
WES remains deeply committed to cultivating an inclusive community through anti-bias curriculum and equitable practices. For the 2025–2026 school year, we are excited to partner with SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) to further strengthen this work.
Through a series of facilitated sessions led by SEED, our educators will engage in meaningful reflection and dialogue that speak to both the head and the heart. These experiences are designed to deepen our understanding, affirm our shared values, and enhance the ways we support every learner.
Our Commitments
- We endeavor to embody the Episcopal vow to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” Some of the ways we demonstrate this include:
- Curriculum units that teach about historic injustices and help students connect those to current realities.
- Service learning projects that help students learn about structural inequity.
- Our REACH program highlights our core values at WES: Respect, Empathy, Authenticity, Courage, and Humility. Students explore what these values mean and how they are essential to honoring the vow quoted above.
- We celebrate our similarities and differences in order to build understanding and empathy. Some of the ways we demonstrate this include:
- Curriculum units that invite students to share their own identities and experiences.
- Our bi-annual Global Fair, which invites children to explore the 44 nationalities represented in our school.
- Special Chapels that highlight the many faiths of our community members.
- We value diversity in all its forms, including ethnicity, culture, age, learning style, neurodiversity, physical ability, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and more. Some of the ways we demonstrate this include:
- Conversations in all grades that share the experiences of diverse individuals and communities.
- Elementary and Middle School summer reading provides the opportunity for students to be exposed to a diverse group of authors and books representing a variety of global perspectives.
- We promote awareness and respect by engaging our students, families, and faculty/staff in ongoing dialogue around identity and justice. Some of the ways we demonstrate this include:
- Diversity clubs for students in Grades 4-8
- Affinity groups for students, families, and faculty/staff
- Internal and external school-wide Professional Development focusing on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Parent speaker series that highlights diversity topics
- Grade-level identity projects
DEIB in Action
Classroom Experiences
Classroom Experiences
Students at WES engage in a variety of rich, age-appropriate learning experiences that deepen their understanding of themselves and others. Through literature, social studies, class discussions, and community celebrations, they explore identity, culture, and perspective. These experiences help students build empathy, celebrate differences, and recognize their role in creating a welcoming and inclusive community.
Diversity Clubs
Diversity Clubs
Clubs like Kaleidoscope and Middle School affinity groups give students the chance to connect with others who share similar experiences or identities. These spaces offer a sense of belonging, encourage self-expression, and foster leadership. Whether sharing stories, planning events, or simply showing up for one another, students build meaningful relationships and contribute to a stronger, more inclusive WES community.
Professional Development
Professional Development
Through our partnership with SEED (System for Educator Effectiveness Development), WES educators engage in ongoing professional development focused on culturally responsive teaching, anti-bias practices, and inclusive classroom strategies. This work equips teachers with tools to foster belonging, support academic excellence for all learners, and strengthen meaningful connections with students and families.
