Leila Bailey-Stewart, Franconia Notch State Park, 2024
Words of the Month
Rest- Oxford dictionary defines the verb "rest" as follows- to (cause someone or something to) stop doing a particular activity or stop being active for a period of time in order to relax and get back your strength.
As referenced, an important part of this definition that is often overlooked is that you NEED to rest to regain strength. In today's busy society, it is common to feel as though rest is more a burden than a right. Thus many of us overwork until burnout. However, it is crucial to unlearn the negativity and guilt around resting. Resting is essential for maintaining physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and it is important that we set aside time to ensure that our bodies and minds recharge and regain strength.
DEIG Commitments
In this new section of our newsletter, we highlight our DEIG commitments: Engagement, Equitable Learning, Meaningful Relationships, Transparency and Self-reflection.
In this month's newsletter, we address our commitment to Engagement- Pursuing equity for all through exploring multiple perspectives, active solidarity, and community engagement. Watch as Patty Dei, the Associate Director of the DEIG team breaks down the different components of this commitment.
What does "Engagement" mean to you? Please tell us through this form
Happy Holidays!
It’s hard to believe that we’re almost at the end of 2024- Congratulations on all you have accomplished thus far! As the semester draws to a close, we reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve shared as a school community. Thank you for your continued engagement with our work and all you contributed to our office.
In this final issue of the calendar year, we feature the Upper School service learning afternoon, and exchange student Hanane El Idrissi.
As we look ahead to the coming year, the DEIG office is excited about the opportunities and experiences that await. We have a busy second half of the year. We are excited to continue engaging and collaborating with you throughout to serve and support our community with love and care.
Congratulations on making it to the end of the semester! Wishing you and yours a joyful and restful holiday season and a wonderful New Year. See you in 2025!
Photo on Adobe Stock
FEATURES
US SERVICE LEARNING AFTERNOON
Members of the freshman and sophomore classes participated in an afternoon dedicated to community service. They had the opportunity to choose from several activities, each designed to highlight different ways to engage meaningfully with their communities. There were several options for them to sign up with our partner organizations whose logos have been picture below. This event provided valuable exposure to various service opportunities and encouraged students to explore potential avenues for future involvement.
EXCHANGE STUDENT HANANE EL IDRISSI
Earlier this year, BB&N hosted a visiting student Hanane El Idrissi. Hanane is a student at Elaraki International School in Morocco, one of our GEBG and Round Square partners. Hanane previously hosted two of our former students, Alana Kramer Gomez and Tasha Roseman, during their Round Square gap year in 2023-24. During her time at BB&N, Hanane attended classes and interacted with students across the Upper and Lower Schools, sharing a presentation about her life in her home country.
US ISL CHANGEMAKERS 3RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT LAWRENCE ACADEMY
Pictured are Upper School student athletes who were nominated by their coaches to represent BB&N in the third annual Independent School League (ISL) Changemakers Conference about leadership, equity and racial justice. This conference provided a space for students to discuss questions of diversity, equity, and inclusion within athletics. Six scholar athletes were nominated by coaches, Athletic directors and DEIG practitioners across sixteen ISL schools.
Left to Right: Liam Cunningham (2027, Varsity Football), Hailey Jiang (2026, Varsity Rowing/Ice Hockey), Anochie Azuakolam (2025, Varsity Football), Tiago Figueiredo (2025, Varsity Lacrosse), Corinne Holness (2025, Varsity Volleyball), Sabina Kaba (2026 Varsity Soccer/Varsity Basketball).
Photo by Maria Graciela Alcid
LS K-6 RAINBOW DROP-IN LUNCH
The Lower School held its first Rainbow drop-in lunch for students who identify, or have family members who identify as, LGBTQ+. Students in this space spent time together making friendship bracelets.
Photo by Natasha Wanjiru
LS JEWISH AFFINITY LUNCH
About 40 Jewish Lower School students gathered for the first Jewish Affinity lunch of the year on 10/28. Students shared something they like about being Jewish, and a hope they have for Jewish Affinity time this year.
LS GLOBAL EDUCATION BENCHMARK DIALOGUE
Two sixth grade students, Ronika Salehian (left) and David DeMichele (right), participated in the Global Education Benchmark Group's student-led virtual Middle School dialogue on The Impact of Extreme Weather Events and Natural Disasters on People and Communities. The GEBG dialogues offer students a chance to connect with peers from schools across North America and 22 other countries, discussing important global topics like climate change, gender equality, and more.
Photo by Emma Arky Solomon
US SOUTH ASIAN STUDENT AFFINITY (SASA) ASSEMBLY FOR DIWALI RECOGNITION
SASA student leaders, Krishna Patel (2025), Niyam Badani (2025) and Nikhil Babbar (2025) gave a presentation on Diwali and how it is celebrated during assembly earlier this month. Pictured are the SASA Co-Presidents Krishna Patel (2025), Niyam Badani (2025), Nikhil Babbar (2025) and their advisor Ms. Kaur.
Photo by Maria Graciela Alcid
LS JEDI GROUP CHARLES RIVER CLEAN UP WITH CHARLES RIVER CONSERVANCY
Sixth graders in JEDI (Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion) partnered with the Charles River Conservancy to clean up along the Charles River near Elliot Bridge. They collected nearly 50 pounds of trash in 35 minutes!
Photo by Emma Arky Solomon
US SHADES MEETING
Students Honoring All Differences and Embracing Similarities (SHADES), an US Alliance group held their second meeting earlier in November. SHADES is a safe space created to foster and create an informative and collaborative environment for all students to learn and understand the BB&N community from different perspectives.
Photo by Maria Graciela Alcid
AS BIPOC SOCIAL
Staff and Faculty who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) gathered in community in early november to celebrate their hard work and dedication to BB&N. This gathering offered many people a chance to connect with educators across the different campuses and build community.
Photo by Leila Bailey-Stewart
WAAAG Session 2
In the second session of White Awareness & Accountability Group (WAaAG), participants engaged in role play to practice responding to race-related incidents, and build capacity to interrupt racial harm.
LS DEIG steering committee (ls DSC)
The Lower School DSC held their second meeting on 11/21, where they discussed the Transformative Justice concept of "pods," and brainstormed the people and organizations in their individual "pods."
MS DEIG STEERING committee (ms dsc)
The Middle School DSC had its first meeting. They started to create community agreements and began discussions on community by creating a community mind map.
LS INTERFAITH ALLIANCE LUNCH
During the first Interfaith Alliance Lunch at the Lower School on 12/6, students shared something they love about their faith traditions, made connections, and asked each other questions.
LS RAINBOW COMMUNITY TIME
Rainbow Affinity students and teachers created flags to represent themselves that will be strung together into a Rainbow Affinity flag banner.
LS, MS author visit
Award-winning author, Kyle Lukoff, came to speak at BB&N earlier this month. At the Lower School, he held a poetry workshop with 4th grade on his works Explosion at the Poem Factory and Awake, Asleep. To second and third graders, he did a presentation on his newest picture book, I'm Sorry You Got Mad, and led a choices workshop with sixth grade on If You're a Kid Like Gavin.
Pictured here is his Middle School visit where he did a short reading and Q&A with Middle School students on his Newberry Award-winning Too Bright to See.
AS PBS EVENT
On Sunday, November 24th, PBS (Parents of Black Students) gathered in community at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research.
Photo by Tiffany Rice
RAINBOW FAMILIES FALL GATHERING
The Family Gender and Sexuality Alliance (FGSA) hosted a fall gathering for Rainbow Families earlier this month. The FGSA is made up of subgroups that connect, support, and affirm LGBTQ+ identities and community at BB&N.
Photo by Sylvia Elmer
LS Student DEIG steering committee (ls sDSC)
Lower Schools SDSC students met together and worked in small groups to draft posters of the 5Ds of Upstander Intervention (Distract, Delay, Direct, Delegate, Document).
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Looking ahead
- January 8 (7pm-8pm) LAHFA BB&N Alumni College Panel on Zoom
- January 8 (8:15am - 12:45pm) Community Day/SDSC Leadership Retreat
- January 10 (8am-10am) SEED Session 4
- January 10 (7:45 am-10am) WAaAG Session 3
- January 20 (10am-12pm) MLK Brunch
Inspirations
Watch
Are you a community member looking to create more visibility for your group? Are you searching for a widely-read platform to share your thoughts, projects, and activism around DEIG? Write to Ms. Wanjiru at nwanjiru@bbns.org and be featured in the DEIG newsletter!
This month's newsletter was curated by Natasha Wanjiru, Education Fellow.
Credits:
Created with images by Pixel-Shot - "Legs of woman in knitted socks and plaid on color background" • nuchao - "paper art scene of pine tree on flat background,Minimal concept of forest,3D rendering"