FSP’s mission to “challenge and empower students to develop their intellectual, physical, emotional, creative, and spiritual potential” begins with being a school community to which each member can bring their full humanity and to which each member belongs. Starting with the belief in the Light within, FSP is called to create and foster a school community that sees and celebrates the essential worth of each individual. Our belief in the transformative power of love calls us to acknowledge and dismantle historic, current, and systemic injustice.
Friends School of Portland’s foundation in Quaker testimonies requires that the work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work be held at the center of our life together each and every day.
Ongoing and Current Work:
Equity Assessment
With the support of our community’s Strategic Plan, FSP’s board, and a grant from the Obadiah Brown Benevolent Fund, we took steps to hire Dustin Ward of It is Time Consulting.
So far this school year, Dustin Ward has met with students, faculty and staff, and board members. In December, Dustin spent two days on campus having one-on-one conversations with students and faculty. Beginning in January, Dustin began meeting with parents, graduates, and friends. We look forward to hosting current families on Tuesday, March 4 for a Community Conversation with Dustin, as part of our Annual State of the School.
Still to come: we are planning a future community conversation, additional individual interviews, and an online survey.
The Equity Assessment will wrap up this year in May and help guide and shape our next steps.
Recent Newsletter Updates:
Racial Justice Accountability Group
This is a mixed-constituency, multi-racial group that meets with the head of school regularly throughout the school year. Clerked by the head of school, the mission of the R.J.A.G. is to keep channels of communication open between administration, parents, and teachers when it comes to areas of progress, areas of block, incidents or discouragements, signs of hope, need for further study, and ideas for change. Examples of topics discussed could include: ways of talking to your child about race in an age-appropriate way, or facing a moment where a racial microaggression happened with your child present and you didn't know what to do.
Parents interested in joining should reach out to Head of School, Sara Primo, directly.