Cathy Dean and Bert Galleno
Parent Group on Diversity Co-Chairs
We hope you will engage in one of the many ways this group is working to support our children at SFDS to create an inclusive community for everyone. We also encourage you to read the book: This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women. Each essay in this collection reflects a different perspective…just like the multiplicity of perspectives within the SFDS community. We hope it will serve as an opportunity for discussion throughout the year – both in Parent Group on Diversity (PGD) meetings and elsewhere. Perhaps you’ll even decide to pen an essay of your own. Copies of the book are available for sale at the front desk (see Ann Pattison).
Please join us for interesting discussions each month as we work to promote an inclusive community for everyone. Contact Cathy Dean (cathy@piscesinc.com) or Bert Galleno (hgalleno@gmail.com) for more information.
PGD Goals for this School Year:
The PGD will continue its mission as outlined in the School’s strategic plan:
1) Provide a forum for parents to explore community and diversity issues at SFDS
2) Outreach to parents of all backgrounds
3) Support diversity-related admissions efforts
4) Provide logistical support for the School’s diversity programs
In the upcoming school year, we will provide additional focus on the following initiatives in support of this mission:
1) Engage the entire SFDS parent body with more frequent and focused communication and positioning of our activities with families and other school groups
2) Continue to expand the affinity group network as a more formal element of the PGD
3) Use the PGD proposed ‘This I Believe’ theme to continue the dialogue around, and evolution of, diversity as a permanent and seamless aspect of our community awareness. Particularly in this regard, promote the ‘This I Believe’ theme as an SFDS series school-wide, through various parent, student and faculty-focused initiatives (essay writing, live discussions, video interviews, etc)
PGD Meetings
Oct 22. 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Nov 16. 8:30 – 9:30 am
Jan 25, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Feb 23, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Mar 23, 8:30 – 9:30 am
Apr 27, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
May 18, 8:30 – 9:30 am
Affinity Group Dinners:
Sept 22, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, African American Affinity Dinner
Sept 29, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Asian American Affinity Dinner
Oct 6, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Latino Affinity Dinner
Oct 29, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, LGBT Affinity Dinner
Other Diversity Calendar Events:
Oct 18, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, “The Prep School Negro” Screening and Conference
Oct 20, 1:15 – 2:05 pm, Diwali Assembly
Oct 26, 4:00 – 8:00 pm, Family Photo Night
Nov 12, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Prospective LGBT Families Reception
Dec 7, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Discount Tuition Reception
Dec 9, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Prospective Families of Color Reception
Feb 9, 1:15 – 2:05 pm, Lunar New Year Assembly
