Student Equity Initiatives
Restorative Circles
Circles are a restorative practice, rooted in Indigenous values, for building relationships that are rooted in equity and trust which create a safe space for all students to bring their whole selves. The application of restorative circles to our “Morning Meeting” and SEL lessons align with our school-wide goals of knowing our students well, applying an ABAR & equity lens to our instructions, curriculum and school-wide operations.
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups in school are spaces for students with shared identities to come together and engage in work that allows them to share their experiences as members of a non-dominant identity group. In October of 2021, we launched 3 affinity groups for students who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning or other non-dominant gender identity or sexual orientation) and Neurdivergent (individual whose brain functions differently to what we consider typical; includes people with autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, dyslexia and a range of other neurodiverse conditions).
We’re excited to relaunch our affinity groups for the 2022-2023 school year.
Youth Equity Congress
The Youth Equity Congress (YEC) is a D15 initiative designed for each school to have a team of students dedicated to learning, discussing & tackling issues of social justice. At PS 29, our Youth Equity Congress consists of student representatives from each 4th & 5th grade class.
For the 2021-2022 school year our Youth Equity Congress read & discussed This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action and Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell.