Montessori Children’s House’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging includes making sure everyone in our community feels safe, seen and welcome. This commitment is parallel to our Montessori approach and understanding that humans are more alike than different.
At MCH, we strive to create an environment that is diverse and inclusive by fostering a sense of belonging for our entire community. We all can recommit to this by revisiting our mission statement, which drives everything we do:
Montessori Children’s House is a dynamic educational environment, dedicated to the Montessori philosophy, where children can foster a love of learning, inquiry and independence, while establishing themselves as bold leaders within their community and beyond.
A sense of belonging is crucial for learning. For young students, this sense of belonging stems from seeing themselves reflected in the people in their community and in their curriculum, and from positive interactions and relationships. It is also important for students to be around people and ideas that are different from their own. Montessori Children’s House is a place where students can bring their full selves to school, and it is a community that celebrates the individuals that make it a unique place. Our community is diverse, enriching us with ideas and perspectives that allows students to grow and thrive as they safely explore their individual identity. Our teachers regularly review lessons and books to ensure our students see themselves reflected.
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work is ongoing, and should be considered a work in progress. It is also woven throughout our classrooms and school activities. We work hard toward creating and promoting a culture of compassion and equality, and we want to include you in our journey.
At MCH, we:
- Support children where they are
- Provide a safe space to ask questions and grow
- Answer questions in a developmentally appropriate way
- Teach truthful history
- Support individuals with non-binary, trans, or fluid gender identities
- Have all-gender bathrooms in all areas of the school
- Invite families to share their traditions, celebrations, holidays, and cultural experiences with us
- Participate in Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism (ABAR) and DEI-related Professional Development on a regular basis
- Ensure our hiring practices are equitable and inclusive
- Ensure our staff reflect the diversity of our community
At MCH, our students are taught to:
- Show respect for all people
- Learn about and honor diverse identities
- Ask for help when needed
- Navigate conflicts in respectful and healthy ways
At MCH, our students participate in:
- Weekly Spanish language and cultural lessons
- Community gatherings and celebrations that recognize a variety of cultures and experiences
- Classroom sharing of family traditions, celebrations, holidays, and cultural experiences with us, allowing students to honor and gain understanding and appreciation of the world around them
Resources
We have gathered the following resources, which may be helpful as you process, reflect on, and learn about systemic racism in our country’s history. As a community, we are also always learning, and welcome resources you recommend. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any additional support and/or questions.
Are your kids too young to talk about race? An infographic
Raising Little Allies to Be A printable workbook
Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism. A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Families A 60-minute special
How to talk to children about racism Advice and resources to talk about race and racism in age-appropriate ways
Anti-Racism for Kids 101 Starting to Talk About Race
Talking Race With Young Children A NPR Podcast
We are always working on expanding our library to include relevant and inclusive books for each program and age level.
Montessori Children’s House Diversity Statement:
Montessori Children’s House is committed to recognizing the immense diversity of our students and community, and to making sure everyone in our community feels safe, seen and welcome. We respect the individuality of all people including but not limited to age, economic means, ethnicity, family structure, gender identity, gender expression, learning differences, race, religion, and sexual orientation. We aim to reflect the world in which we live, accepting every community member’s experience and contributions. We seek to be a cohesive community that stands up for one another and justice, while working towards making Dr. Montessori’s dream of a peaceful world a reality.