In fall 2020, the Queen of Heaven Parent Diversity Committee was re-branded to the Inclusion, Diversity, Anti-Racism, and Equity (iDARE) Committee, with a budget, expanded vision, mission, and mandate, and subcommittees tasked with broader roles and responsibilities.
The Student Diversity Committee also embraced the iDARE brand and became the "Student iDARE Committee".
The Parent and Student iDARE Committees are championed by the Queen of Heaven administrators to the family of schools, the wider HCDSB school community, and beyond.
iDARE PARENT COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE
The goal of the Queen of Heaven Parent iDARE Committee ("Committee") is to provide strategic direction and leadership to ensure that QH provides a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for QH staff, students and parents (“Community”).
The Committee sets out to achieve the following objectives:
Embrace the uniqueness of all individuals.
Foster a culture of inclusivity, anti-racism and discrimination, equity and diversity
Engage parents and families of the QH Community more intentionally to ensure that the Committee is being responsive to needs and reflective of the diverse Community of which we are all members of the Body of Christ
Develop and implement school initiatives that occur both during and after school, and special events to further the spirit of diversity and inclusion
Embed iDARE into HCDSB curriculum in a manner that represent and reflects the needs and demographics of the QH Community and of other cultures and heritages, to promote a deeper understanding and acceptance of others and support safe school environment (mental health and anti-bullying)
Create an iDARE learning culture by creating experiential virtual or in-person learning opportunities and build more inclusive learning environments by promoting education and awareness of cultural diaspora
Address challenges, and remove barriers faced by members of our diverse QH Community who experience discrimination and trauma
To be lifelong iDARE learners and influencers of change, building synergies and seeking to continuously improve the functions of the Committee for the betterment of the QH Community
To act as stewards of the iDARE brand, encouraging and empowering other HCDSB schools to embrace the iDARE brand and vision, and to support them in developing their own unique iDARE learning culture and environment
As iDARE brand leads, to mobilize and collaborate with other iDARE Committees on joint initiatives that result in system-wide benefits for HCDSB staff, students, and families
The Queen of Heaven iDARE Committee (“The Committee”) is a subcommittee of the Queen of Heaven Catholic School Council.
The Queen of Heaven iDARE Committee commands a budget that comprises a percentage of the funds raised for Queen of Heaven orders of business.
The Queen of Heaven iDARE Committee liaises with the iDARE Staff and Student Representatives and the QH Staff Health and Wellness Committee.
The Queen of Heaven iDARE Committee as iDARE brand stewards supports other schools across HCDSB to establish their own iDARE Committees, and to augment and enhance activities they have already been engaging in.
The Queen of Heaven iDARE Committee is advised by the HCDSB Senior Manager of Human Rights and Equity, and the HCDSB Indigenous Education Advisor.
The Queen of Heaven iDARE Committee also liaises with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office at HRPS on youth initiatives.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14
The importance of recognizing the principle of "Nothing about us, without us" in planning and developing resources and initiatives that reflect our diverse community.
We celebrate the beautiful and wonderous diversity of all God's Creation.