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Upper school students working in the library

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Princeton Day School is a community shaped by how we learn with and from one another. This shared approach to learning is central to our mission and grounds our work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. To fulfill our mission of cultivating intellectual vitality and strength of character, we must foster a community of compassion and shared responsibility, where students feel safe enough to take intellectual and personal risks. Guided by our values of Humanity and Stewardship, we care for one another, seek understanding across difference, and sustain a culture in which each person is known, valued, and empowered to contribute fully.

Students at Eid Celebration

Belonging in Daily Life

Belonging at PDS is a lived experience — the sense that one’s perspective and experience matter and contribute to the whole. It develops through the way students learn, how they talk with one another, and the intentionality with which we honor each other’s stories. Across divisions, this looks like:

Lower school students doing a classroom activity outside
Learning That Reflects a Wider World

From the earliest grades, students encounter stories and materials that broaden their sense of the world. In the Lower School, global retellings of familiar tales like Cinderella introduce cultural perspectives, while classroom texts and visuals across PreK–12 reflect a wide range of identities and experiences. Together, these elements help students understand themselves and appreciate the many ways people see the world.

Examining Voice and Perspective

The eighth-grade women’s suffrage research project invites students to examine whose voices shaped the historical record and whose were left out. Students build habits of close reading, questioning, and seeking truth.

A group of people, mostly women, are seated around a table in a well-lit classroom or meeting room, engaged in discussion or collaboration.
Practicing Honest Conversation

Through Upper School courses including World Religions, Creation & Humanity in the Age of Technology, and Humanity & Belonging, and through PreK–12 civil discourse initiatives, students learn to explore differences with curiosity. Shared norms keep conversations grounded in clarity and respect.

PreK student being a weather person for their daily task
Daily Routines That Build Connection

Responsive Classroom practices in the Lower School and advisory check-ins in the Middle and Upper School offer moments of grounding and community. Greetings, shared circles, and attentive listening give students a steady sense of belonging.

Students talking at the Thanksgiving Assembly
Celebrating Community and Culture

Assemblies, performances, and cultural gatherings provide students with opportunities to share traditions, stories, and identities. These experiences strengthen connections and deepen appreciation for the richness of our community.

Structures that Support the Work

The Community Multicultural Development Team (CMDT)

CMDT is a cross-divisional group of faculty that coordinates campus-wide efforts to ensure belonging is part of daily life. CMDT partners with academic leaders and student groups to support curriculum review, professional learning, affinity spaces, and schoolwide celebrations that reflect the many identities and traditions within PDS. Across divisions, through gatherings, special events, and Community Time (Lower School), students build connections and are encouraged to share their own traditions and cultures.  Advisors, deans, counselors, and learning specialists also play a steady role in supporting students across grade levels. 

Affinity Groups

Affinity groups provide spaces for connection, reflection, and community-building. Groups are voluntary, student-driven, and supported by faculty advisors.

Creating a Culture of Care

At PDS, we work proactively to build shared expectations, strengthen relationships, and create a culture of care rooted in respect and responsibility. Through intentional teaching, clear norms, and ongoing dialogue, we aim to reduce harm and help community members develop the skills to navigate differences thoughtfully.

Still, even in strong, supportive communities, misunderstandings or hurt can occur. When they arise, we respond by listening carefully, naming what took place, and helping students understand its impact in developmentally appropriate ways. Through restorative conversations, students practice repairing relationships and rebuilding trust. These moments become part of how they learn to navigate challenges with honesty and care.

Please refer to your divisional handbook for more information and behavioral policies.
 

Our Path Forward

Our work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is a responsive and evolving commitment. A healthy community requires ongoing listening and reflection, allowing us to adapt our curriculum and daily practices as the world and our student body change. By strengthening faculty learning and reinforcing the structures that nurture connection, we ensure that PDS remains a place where young people engage deeply and grow with confidence.