Diversity in the North Shore School Community
RED: Respecting each other as Equal and Different
“The North Shore Schools uphold the moral principle of respecting human dignity. Our schools foster our most basic intellectual mission, to help young people think and express themselves intelligently through a respectful and searching exchange of ideas. We are dedicated to creating a school community, which is a safe haven for all of our members, a place where differences and similarities are respected and celebrated.”

2009-10 District Goals
As part as our 2009-10 District Goals, we will continue to do the following:

• Remain committed to our statement of mission which focuses on universal  respect and understanding for all individuals and groups.
• Continue to communicate the belief that our differences as well as our similarities are valuable

Recognizing and understanding both our interconnection and our differences adds depth and value to our communal lives, and gives us insight into each other and ourselves.

Diversity Task Force
To proactively and successfully implement our diversity goal, a North Shore Schools Diversity Task Force was established over the 2008-09 school-year which included parents, administrators, faculty, students and residents. Six groups worked within the task force to draft policy and recommendations that were compiled into a comprehensive report. It included:

Definition of Diversity
Diversity Professional Learning for the Faculty & Staff
Student Services and Support
Special Projects & Events
Community Outreach

In June 2009, the report was approved by the Board of Education enabling a diversity plan of action to be introduced and implemented by the administrators, faculty and staff of the North Shore Schools. The first initiatives include defining diversity and introducing the acronym, RED, to all of our students and the community.

Defining Diversity
Diversity at the North Shore Schools is:

• Understanding that each individual is unique and special
• Recognizing and appreciating our differences including age, ethnicity, gender, ideology, physical ability, political belief, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status
• Exploring our differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment

It encompasses acceptance and respect. In addition, diversity is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing the strengths of our individual and communal experiences, skills, talents and perspectives in order to build a better community.

RED: Respecting Each Other as Equal and Different
The acronym, RED, was created to help support diversity education within the North Shore Schools. It was recommended that discussions about diversity take place in our classrooms utilizing the following, key vocabulary words: respect, interconnection, equal, empathy, equity, collaboration, celebrate, multifaceted and awareness. 

Diversity Task Force - Action Plan
The Diversity Task Force produced an action plan which will be introduced in September 2009. It includes the diversity statement will be available in:

• All School Handbooks
• 2009-10 Calendar & Directory
• Communication Materials
• www.northshoreschools.org

Additionally, a district-wide diversity “kick-off” day will be designated on Monday, September 21st, and other education activities will take place during the school including a logo contest! A diversity brochure will be available on the district website as well as on “Back-to-School” night at the individual schools.

This is only the beginning! Other future initiatives will include Diversity Profession Learning for the Faculty & Staff, Student Services and Support, Special Courses and Events, Community Outreach and Public Relations.