The Orchard School is an inclusive community deliberately rich with diversity. We strive to maintain a safe and welcoming environment that encourages courageous conversations about differences in beliefs, identities and perspectives.
We value and respect the dignity, worth and experiences of every person. We embrace the belief that diversity enriches learning and benefits everyone. We believe that experiencing and learning about diversity helps people relate to each other and the world with greater respect, understanding and kindness. This gives people the ability and confidence to challenge and change behaviors that oppress, exclude or demean the humanity of others. To that end, Orchard educates the whole child by integrating social responsibility, moral character, respect, inclusivity and equitable treatment of all people into its curriculum and policies including admissions, hiring, financial assistance and professional development.
One of the goals of our diversity work is to help all members of the community overcome a sense of “otherness” and reserve judgment when encountering something unfamiliar and new. Therefore, Orchard teaches about race, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, family structures, physical differences, political and social values, culture, religion, abilities and learning styles in a developmentally appropriate manner that leads to appreciation and understanding of the variety of human experiences.