Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

“The school, affirming that all are created in the image and likeness of God, promotes the inherent dignity of the human person and strives for relationships characterized by inclusion and mutual respect.” - Criteria 1 of Goal IV: educate to the building of community

In a society characterized by diversity, Newton Country Day commits itself to inspire in each student a desire to build just and enriching relationships. The School seeks to be a community that embraces differences and celebrates the fundamental unity of the human family and the dignity of the human person. Both in the classroom and through programs in community service, students are educated to an awareness of economic, political, and social problems and are made aware of their responsibility to work for a more just and peaceful world.

We strive to build courage and confidence in all our students, by creating an environment where each student feels that they are welcome, that they are seen, that they are heard, and that they belong. Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat called on our Sacred Heart communities to model respect, compassion, forgiveness, and generosity. We honor this by building a community that celebrates the fundamental unity of the human family and the dignity of the human person, by educating to a social awareness and creating opportunities for learning with grace, curiosity, and respect.

“The criteria [of the Goals] serve as indicators that the goals are being lived. Through personal and communal engagement, the attentiveness of educators to the criteria ensures that Sophie’s vision is alive across all Network of Sacred Heart Schools.” - Sacred Heart Educators’ An Orientation To Mission, 2020

Institutional

Belonging Council

The Belonging Council is composed of faculty and staff with the goal of building belonging capacity in our school. The group strategizes on short and long term planning, engaging in professional development and cultural enrichment activities with the goal of closing any gaps within the area of diversity, equity and inclusion, building cultural competency, and supporting faculty development in the area of diversity ,equity and inclusion.

Students

P.R.I.S.M.

Founded in 1995, People for a Racially Inclusive Society of Multiculturalism (P.R.I.S.M.) is a student-led organization that aims to celebrate the diversity within the NCDS community through events, speakers, and other activities as requested by its members.

Affinity Groups

Affinity groups provide students who share a common identity or experience the opportunity to connect, find support and inspiration, to articulate and share experiences in smaller groups, especially in situations where they feel their identity or experience is marginalized. Racial affinity groups are a means to counteract the racial isolation that exists in many schools and institutions. Creating an environment - even a small one - where students feel that they are welcome, that they are seen, that they are heard, and that they are reflected - can go a long way in helping students feel that they belong in the larger group. In the spirit of the Sacred Heart Goals, affinity groups strengthen the Newton Country Day community by creating a strong support system and inviting allies who wish to learn more and engage in meaningful conversations.

Newton Country Day offers student-formed and student-led Upper School Affinity Groups that include:

Asian Students in America (ASIA)
Black Student Union (BSU)
Society of Caribbean Ancestry (SOCA)
Multiracial Coalition (MRC)
Middle East and Allies (MEA)
Organization of LatinX American Students (OLAS)
Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
Synergy/Allies
Affinity Group for Adoptees (AGA)

The Middle School offers the following Affinity Groups:

Black and African American Affinity Group
Asian Affinity Group
Middle Eastern Affinity Group
Hispanic and LatinX Affinity Group
Transracial Adoptees Affinity Group
Multi-Racial Affinity Group

Parents

Bridges: Parents of Color, Parents of Students of Color, and Allies Group

Goal Four of a Sacred Heart Education is “to educate to the building of community.” Bridges comprises of parents, guardians, and caregivers who seek to build a greater sense of community at our school through monthly conversations on topics related to the building of community. If you are interested in participating, don't hesitate to get in touch with Kyan Meyers P '24, Barbara Mikolajczak P '24, or Randi Ferrero P '26.

Faculty and Staff

Curriculum

International

Newton Country Day belongs to a national and international network of schools. The Network of Sacred Heart Schools includes 24 schools across North America and 41 countries throughout the world. Learn more about the Network here.

The Network allows students to participate in a variety of programs including the opportunity to engage in a six-week reciprocal exchange. In recent years students from countries including Australia, Austria, Chile, England, France, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, and Taiwan have shared an exchange with our students.

News

Black Student Union Welcomes Neuroscientist Dr. Sade Iriah

Feb 29 2024

To celebrate Black History Month, the Black Student Union welcomed accomplished neuroscientist Dr. Sade Iriah to NCDS to speak to the Upper School about her experiences in her academic, athletic, and professional careers.

Newton Celebrates the Lunar New Year

Feb 2 2022

In observance of the Lunar New Year, Middle and Upper School girls learned about the holiday’s traditions, practiced calligraphy, and created paper flowers.

NCDS Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Oct 26 2021

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15, Newton Country Day showcased the contributions of the Hispanic community in the form of presentations, displays, and art.

NCDS Hosts Artists in Residence Program

Apr 27 2021

Newton Country Day’s Artists in Residence Program, focused on slam poetry and co-sponsored by the Theatre Department and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, kicked off on Monday, April 27. Through May 20, Poet Laureate of Boston Porsha Olayiwola, Austin Poetry Slam Champion Andre Bradford, and 2018 Natick Poetry Slam Champion Beth Aarons ’89 will perform and host a Theatre Intensive program for interested Upper School students.

Middle School Concludes Black History Month Celebration with a Freedom Concert

Apr 21 2021

In conjunction with the celebration of Black History Month, and learning about Coretta Scott King’s use of music and art in activism, the NCDS Middle School curated its own Freedom Concert.

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