School Culture & Belonging

Our calling as a Catholic, Holy Cross school requires an intentional and active approach to dismantle systems of oppression, one rooted in Jesus' teachings and our shared goal of creating a socially just world.

School Culture & Belonging is the vehicle through which we will carry out this calling. It will impact all facets of the school community, in holistic fulfillment of our spiritual, academic and social mission.

“Throughout our lives we have been, are being, and forever will be called to be part of the body of Christ. Do our actions or lack of actions suggest we are worthy of such a calling.”

Sr. Ann Lacour, M.S.C.

Our Goals

The overarching goals of School Culture & Belonging  at Saint Francis are to:

• Promote student life that embraces and leverages attributes of each individual’s culture to create a new, shared beloved community.
   
• Implement a values-based curriculum that highlights awareness of bias to create leaders of impact.
   
• Create supportive systems that promote positive school climate and fully inclusive school policies and practices.
   
• Develop confidence in employees to recognize and effectively confront inequities.
   
• Engage the greater school community in an exploration of privilege, systems of oppression, and inclusive practices.
   
• Attract and retain students and employees committed to Catholic teachings of equity and inclusion.
   
• Analyze macro- and micro-level data to objectively review policies and practices.
   
• Ensure fulfillment of and adherence to the school’s vision and mission.

Affinity Groups Research abounds in the benefits of student affinity groups as a means of supporting a school’s efforts to create an inclusive learning environment. Affinity groups can serve as a gathering space for students to foster positive identity exploration, pose questions to others with a shared experience and process issues they face as individuals and as a group. As a learning base, affinity groups offer affirmation of identity, empowerment of the individual and empowerment of the group within the learning community.

Student affinity groups also serve as a supportive space for leadership development. Student representatives from each affinity group make up our Affinity Council where we gather monthly to develop leadership skills and tools, collaborate with one another across affinity groups and support upcoming affinity groups and school-wide events. Affinity Council serves as a critical voice in our school's effort to maintain an inclusive environment in fulfillment of our commitment to social justice as a Holy Cross school.