Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging (DEIJB)

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging: Creating a Loving Sanctuary for All

As a school that is home to learners and educators of many nationalities, here at OSC we hold the belief that our strength lies in our ability to work well together because of our differences, not despite them. Within these differences, we find the intersection of authenticity and our individual uniqueness, resulting in each person’s ultimate truth. It has always been important to us to consider OSC as more than just an institution of education but as a sanctuary that prioritises holistic, experiential learning. We are thus driven to integrate learning with multicultural acceptance, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, social responsibility, personal accountability, and civic duty. It is clear to us that the core essence of the culture at OSC is the goal of inspiring others with kind words and deeds, offering equal opportunities to all, and approaching every situation with care and deep respect so as to bring about meaningful change.

What is DEIJB?

The community at OSC is made up of learners from over 40 nationalities, leading to a diverse group of persons of varying backgrounds who bring countless perspectives to the table. We have the privilege to count those in our community as progressive thinkers and intrepid innovators who embody the OSC mission of Compassion, Courage, and Curiosity. We are thus engaged in building upon those values to create a sanctuary for all our learners and educators.

What is meant when we use the words Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging, often shortened to the acronym DEIJB? Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging are each multifaceted and complex areas of discipline, study, and reflection. Each facet of DEIJB holds importance and is pivotal in the process of making meaningful progress in society. They are interconnected, functioning in tandem to promote safe, inclusive environments that empower learners to make their personal journeys towards cultural competency, anti-racist, anti-biased mindsets, behaviour, and practices.

A Space to Belong

This school is a space where everyone is safe and receives personal care and support. There are many things OSC does in order to provide this safe space. One way is by ensuring that our community of learners receives the resources best suited for their needs. Language is a form of power, so here at OSC we make sure to use inclusive language in and out of our classrooms, educating learners and educators on how they can best respect the people around them. Making sure that the language we use avoids expressions or words that may alienate certain groups of people is integral to ensuring everyone feels a sense of belonging. With focus on an experiential curriculum, and building a true sense of community, OSC cherishes and celebrates our variety of ethnicities and cultures, as well as the myriad identities and values reflective and representative of the School.

It is not a truth that we shy away from, that taking these steps leads to some feelings of discomfort as we open our minds to new perspectives and grow to accept new positions. We believe that the key to building a strong community is to embrace that discomfort as a gift, to see it as an opportunity for growth and to fully take part in identifying and appreciating our differences so as to be able to confront our own prejudices head on, challenging our biases in the process. We strive to manage discomfort carefully, taking pains to consider what is developmentally appropriate for young children and making sure that the space remains a safe one. It is a truth we must acknowledge that growth cannot happen without change.

Keeping this in mind, it is not at all our intention to imply that we are all perfect. In fact, we acknowledge that everyone is learning and growing, so sometimes mistaken behaviours will manifest themselves. Instead of then upholding structures of privilege, however, it is our goal at OSC to use these moments to teach our students that trust, understanding, and love are invaluable factors in the creation of a safe space, and we use these opportunities to fortify this space so that everyone in our unique community will feel a sense of belonging. This is the cornerstone of OSC’s commitment to the principles of DEIJB: that all of us are welcome, all of us belong. Our students will thus receive holistic, life-informing education, and be treated with dignity regardless of cultural background, racial and gender identity, sexual orientation and religious or philosophical beliefs. These sentiments are backed by our actions, and we are determined not to overlook anyone as we unite and unify everyone under our umbrella of care so that all have a voice to speak for themselves and feel heard and can contribute to building a fair and inclusive world.

Practical Steps

At OSC, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging are more than words. We provide our community with resources and opportunities to strengthen anti-biased and anti-racist competencies. Our commitment to DEIJB is not static but is ever-evolving as we respond to the needs of the community. We value every perspective, every thought, idea, word, and deed because we know that the sum of these as well as the whole, all contribute to our collective vision to grow and evolve. OSC provides an open environment where our valued parents and community intrinsically interact and have a strong bond, participating and assisting us in making OSC a better place.

In order to strengthen our community and in order to provide the best possible conditions for our learners and educators to practice, inculcate, and experience nurturing, empathy, understanding, systematic improvement, and positive action, we need to develop a thorough understanding of the obstacles of imbalance, social disparity, and ingrained prejudices that are harmful and impact learners in the long term. We cannot achieve this without grappling with identity, privilege, power, oppression, certain biases, bigotry, and intersectionalities that hinder our quest to make OSC a place that reflects and challenges assumptions and conventions and in addition, learns and takes meaningful action. We take our duty very seriously, because at the heart of our beliefs, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging are essential to moving towards a just world.