equity + belonging
Introducing
OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY + BELONGING
At Rocky Hill Country Day School, Equity + Belonging leads our community in fostering diversity, equity, fairness, and inclusion, by providing strategic direction on developing relationships with underserved, underrepresented communities.
We work together to recruit, welcome, and retain Mariners committed to our school’s mission, vision, and motto, “Know Thyself.” Throughout our Equity + Belonging journey, we are empowered to think critically, to communicate intentionally, and to navigate challenges ethically.
We define “Equity” as representing and expressing our full selves within our Mariner Community, and “Belonging” as creating a more inclusive learning environment for every Mariner.
“I am excited to reunite with my RHCD community, especially with the charge to lead our school’s Equity + Belonging journey. This year we will focus on courageous conversations to help us learn from our own, and others’, lived experiences. Let’s more fully and authentically use our wisdom for good!
I can’t wait to share spaces, engage in conversations, and discover what we don’t know together.”
MICHELLE JONES ’06 (she/her)
Director of Equityand Belonging
mjones@rockyhill.org
ext. 125
- Master of Science, Higher Education Administration, Bay Path University
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Government, Spelman College
- 2022 AISNE Middle School Student of Color Conference
- 4C’s Merit Award Winner (2020, 2021)
- Leader/Trainer, The National SEED Project
- Equity Lead, ATD Student Success Council, QVCC
- Member, Equity Council, CSCU
- Master of Science, Higher Education Administration, Bay Path University
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Government, Spelman College
- 2022 AISNE Middle School Student of Color Conference
- 4C’s Merit Award Winner (2020, 2021)
- Leader/Trainer, The National SEED Project
- Equity Lead, ATD Student Success Council, QVCC
- Member, Equity Council, CSCU
Introducing
OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY + BELONGING
At Rocky Hill Country Day School, Equity + Belonging leads our community in fostering diversity, equity, fairness, and inclusion, by providing strategic direction on developing relationships with underserved, underrepresented communities.
We work together to recruit, welcome, and retain Mariners committed to our school’s mission, vision, and motto, “Know Thyself.” Throughout our Equity + Belonging journey, we are empowered to think critically, to communicate intentionally, and to navigate challenges ethically.
We define “Equity” as representing and expressing our full selves within our Mariner Community, and “Belonging” as creating a more inclusive learning environment for every Mariner.
“I am excited to reunite with my RHCD community, especially with the charge to lead our school’s Equity + Belonging journey. This year we will focus on courageous conversations to help us learn from our own, and others’, lived experiences. Let’s more fully and authentically use our wisdom for good!
I can’t wait to share spaces, engage in conversations, and discover what we don’t know together.”
— MICHELLE JONES
Michelle Jones
Director of Equity
and Belonging
mjones@rockyhill.org
ext. 125
- Master of Science, Higher Education Administration, Bay Path University
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Government, Spelman College
- 2022 AISNE Middle School Student of Color Conference
- 4C’s Merit Award Winner (2020, 2021)
- Leader/Trainer, The National SEED Project
- Equity Lead, ATD Student Success Council, QVCC
- Member, Equity Council, CSCU
E
+
B
In the spring and summer of 2020, RHCD administration built a plan to expand ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts within the community. We are happy to share our plan and progress with you here.
Action Steps
In the spring and summer of 2020, RHCD administration built a plan to expand ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts within the community. We are happy to share our plan and progress with you here.
Assess current work, community sense of belonging, equity, and culture in order to inform future steps.
Create structures which support and promote our commitment to DEI at RHCD.
Promote diversity and representation through hiring and admissions.
Increase support for students of color, LGBTQIA students, students with disabilities and international students.
Educate faculty to be leaders of DEI work and intentionally incorporate DEI into curriculum.
Provide support for families of students of color.
Address larger systems of injustice beyond RHCD.
E+B Strategic Goals 2023-24
Increase diversity of faculty, board of trustees, and student body while prioritizing inclusion and equity.
Expand professional development and curriculum to continue to build an anti-racist, just, equitable and inclusive institution.
School Representation
E+B Committees
Our Equity + Belonging Subcommittees comprise faculty, staff, parents, students and alumni working together throughout the school year in order to develop strategic goals that align with RHCD’s mission, and to assess our Mariner E+B progress! Rocky Hill’s E+B Subcommittees include:
Communications
- Streamline + coordinate DEIJB community outreach
- Increase accessibility of social media platforms
- Create resource list of accessible communication methods
Curriculum, Teaching + Learning
- Develop deeper understanding of curriculum flow through an equity lens
- Provide feedback about DEIJB resources for curriculum planning
- Assist with streamlining inclusive teaching practices and strategies
Hiring Practices
- Members attended AISNE’s Building Inclusive Hiring Practices Workshop
- Provide feedback to HoS regarding job postings and descriptions
- Increase representation of marginalized groups in hiring pool
Student Advocacy
- Develop vision and mission for this student-led committee
- Engage student involvement from each grade
- Attend weekly meetings with Direction of E+B and/or E+B Committee Member(s)
Student Support
- Develop deeper understanding of ACE services through an equity lens
- Create spaces for students to unpack identities in community
- Outline outreach system for support services on campus, like the Student Support Team
Our Mission – inspiring each other to discover
our true selves and use our wisdom for good
– drives all that we do.
Who We Aspire To Be
Community Norms
We welcome courageous conversations, and our Community Norms help guide school wide discussion across all divisions.
EACH OTHER
Speak from the “I” perspective.
Honor confidentiality.
FULL SELVES
Accept the speaker’s viewpoint as true for the speaker in the moment.
Manage both intent and impact.
FOR GOOD
Accept non-closure.
Accept working through conflict to its resolution as a catalyst for learning.
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups are optional and open to all RHCD community members (student, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, etc.)
Purpose: A space where those who share an identity can discuss issues related to that identity and transfer those courageous conversations into collective action that promotes a more inclusive campus community.
OUR AFFINITY SPACES
AT RHCD:
OUR AFFINITY SPACES
AT RHCD:
GROUP
GROUP
OF COLOR
GROUP
OF COLOR
GROUP
FORUM
FORUM
GROUP
GROUP
AFFINITY GROUP
AFFINITY GROUP
GROUP
GROUP
/ NORTH AFRICAN
/ NORTH AFRICAN
AFFINITY GROUP
AFFINITY GROUP
INDIGENOUS /
FIRST NATIONS
INDIGENOUS /
FIRST NATIONS
AFFINITY GROUP
AFFINITY GROUP
AFFINITY GROUP
AFFINITY GROUP
Events & Resources
Family Partnership Series: Chat & Chew with our Student Support Team Members
Join Michelle Jones, Director of Equity and Belonging, Traci Fairchild, Director of Counseling and Wellness, and Helen Dembinski, Director of ACE, for a courageous conversation about why we celebrate costumes, not culture. Grown Ups are welcome to grab a bite to eat in Campbell and meet at the round tables in the lobby starting at 11:30 a.m.
E+B 'Welcome Packet'
Our Equity + Belonging Welcome Packet is a collection of resources that we have found impactful to our RHCD E+B Journey. As we look over different terminology and browse resources that spark our interest, let us be reminded of the beauty of being a lifelong learner. We are courageously challenged to learn what we don’t know together, and we are grateful for every effort made to use our wisdom for good.
The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child's Bookshelf
Grace Lin | TEDxNatick
What your child reads sets the path for their own self-worth as well as how they see others. Grace Lin is a children’s book author/illustrator whose book, “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon,” received the Newbery Book Honor. She shows how the books that are not on your child’s bookshelf are just as important as those that are.
Our Equity +
Belonging Report
Workforce Diversity
5
languages
5
nationalities
5
ethnicities
Our Journey
January 1, 2020
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February 1, 2021
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March 1, 2022
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We Need You
Our doors are always open
and we welcome courageous
conversations!
Report incidents of bias or
discrimination that occur
at Rocky Hill Country Day School.
Help us gain a deeper
understanding of the sense
of belonging our students
feel within our RHCD campus
community.
Rocky Hill Country Day School is committed to working against forces of discrimination and oppression. The School seeks diversity and encourages the ongoing sharing of ideas, experiences, and dialogue that will broaden perspectives. By practicing and teaching equity and inclusion, we aim to dismantle systemic racism, oppression, and inequality in our community and the world around us.