SWS IDEA Working Group
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism (IDEA) are central to SWS’s values. As we look forward to next year, and our increasing opportunities for coming together, we want to celebrate and continue the strides we have made toward creating a school environment where all members are able to thrive and engage with their entire selves.
This site represents the collective work of the Staff and Family IDEA Working Groups. Here you will find the latest IDEA resources and information for the SWS community.
What we're proud of...
We began this year by examining our collective priorities through a community survey. We learned that we are ready to come together and to learn from each other. We also heard that we all—students, parents and caregivers, and staff—have an active role to play in making SWS more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist.
A lot looked different in the 2020/2021 school year, but the Staff and Family IDEA Working Groups remained committed to our equity goals.
Explore
What we're looking forward to in 2021/2022...
Working Together
This year, the Staff IDEA Workin Group devoted space within staff meetings and professional development days to conversations around Courageous Conversations by Glenn E. Singleton. The goal of this was increasing staff's capacity to enact anti-racist practices both personally and professionally. This groundwork will carry over into next year as we continue our schoolwide commitment to antiracism. Staff will nurture students' growth by continuing to use a justice lens to teach hard history and encourage critical thinking. This year, that lens brought us a beautiful and nuanced celebration of Black Joy.
The Family IDEA Working Group will continue to build upon the activities and learning opportunities we developed for heritage month celebrations, diverse and inclusive children’s books, and anti-racism and equity discussion groups. To build upon your family’s learning and to continue to expand our collective awareness, we strongly encourage participating in IDEA Summer Reading.
Both groups look forward to continued collaboration and mutual support. You can be involved in this work by joining the Family IDEA Working Group
SummerReading
In collaboration with Catherine Fravel, SWS's school librarian, we created a guide with suggested books to read, and reflection prompts, organized by grade level. Families who read all the books for their grade level, and share a drawn or written response, will have their reflections displayed in the hallways for the community. We encourage you to take some time this summer to explore the book list with your child.
Read the books
DCPS Library Programs has put together these summer reading recommendations! There are 4 books for each grade band.
Set a goal to read all of the books in a grade band accessible for your child, and complete an activity of their choice for each book. We have some activity ideas on the next page. Have your child bring their work back to school in the fall and we’ll put it on display!
Complete the reflection
For each book you read, as a family, think about one of the questions below. Then have your child choose a fun way to express their answers--they can write about it, draw a picture, compose a song or poem, design a poster, create a story, make a sculpture and snap a photo, or whatever they choose!
They can put your reflection in a template we created or you can also make your own, or just use blank paper! Ask your child to include their name, grade, the book title, and the author.
Bring it back
Your child will engage with these books again in library class. Ask them to hold on to their work and their checklist. Have your child bring their work back to school in the fall and we’ll put it on display!