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Walpole Public Schools utilizes a set of terms and definitions to create a shared language and framework for equity-related conversations. To build awareness of the district’s equity language, the following key terms are provided here to serve as a reference when interpreting this document:
Core Equity Concepts:
Justice: Shifting institutions and systems to achieve sustainable and equitable access for future generations
Equity: Every child gets what they need every day to succeed, regardless of background, identity, or prior knowledge
Diversity: All the ways people differ, recognizing and valuing everyone as part of the community
Inclusion: Creating environments where all feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued
Cultural Knowledge & Practice
Cultural Awareness: Being conscious of your own culturally shaped values, beliefs, perceptions, and biases
Cultural Competency: Understanding your own culture and learning to honor others' cultures
Cultural Proficiency: A mindset for effectively responding to and planning for diversity-related issues
Cultural Humility: A lifelong practice of self-reflection and learning, recognizing that one's understanding of other cultures is never complete, and approaching others with openness and respect
Identities & Community
Identity: A person's sense of self as shaped by experiences, affiliations, and values
Stakeholder: Someone connected to or invested in a school's success (staff, families, students, community)
Marginalized populations: groups excluded or discriminated against due to systemic power imbalances. Examples include groups marginalized by race, ethnicity, language, social class, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, culture, or ability
Recognizing Heritage Months & Holidays
Celebration: Actively honoring a holiday through joyful events centered on the culture
Acknowledgment: Recognizing a holiday's importance without a full-scale celebration, and supported with learning opportunities
Observation: Marking holidays through specific rituals or customs from that culture
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