School-Community Engagement

To create welcoming and inclusive opportunities for all stakeholders to shape district and school efforts. . . 

Reflective Questions:

• What barriers—such as language differences, physical or digital accessibility, transportation, or time constraints—might prevent people from participating?
• How can we remove or reduce these barriers?
• In what ways can we empower stakeholders to contribute in ways that feel authentic to them—for example:
  • Small group conversations
  • Anonymous surveys
  • Co-creating solutions together

To develop and promote high-quality, multilingual, and culturally responsive resources that support strong partnerships and learning. . . 

Reflective Questions:

• What tools or methods can we use to help everyone feel included in communication?
• Are we providing resources in families’ home languages and preferred formats (e.g., printed, digital, audio)?
• How do we ensure that all partners—students, families, staff, and community members—have what they need to feel informed and involved?

To focus on building equitable partnerships (students, staff, caregivers, and community members)  that center student learning and well-being . . .

Reflective Questions:

• What support, information, or access do students and families need to fully engage in their learning?
• How can educators and school teams co-create learning experiences that reflect students’ identities, strengths, and needs?
• In what ways can we collaborate with families and community partners to ensure student success goes beyond symbolic gestures and results in meaningful, shared outcomes?

These clubs are open to all students and focus on raising awareness, building community, and promoting social justice across a range of topics and identities. Examples include:

24|7|365 Beyond, AAPI Student Coalition, American Sign Language (ASL) Club, Black Student Union, Estudiante to Student, Gender Equality Movement, Girl Up, Hispanos Unidos & Friends, Human Rights Club, and the Israel Interest Group. For more info & the full list, view the DHS clubs and HPHS clubs.

These groups are spaces where participants who share a common identity, such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation, can connect, reflect, and support one another. These groups are peer-led and offer a sense of belonging and empowerment through shared experience.

Student groups include: Student Voice, Equinox, Latinx Hispanic Student Association, Gay Straight Alliance, Dreamers, TGIF, Latino Young Men, and Latina Girls group, and Unite. For more info & the full list, click here for DHS, here for HPHS.

Staff groups include: Asian/Pacific-Islander, Black, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, White. 

If you are interested in joining or starting a club, please visit the Student Activities office or reach out to Mirah Anti.

In partnership with the Central Suburban League, our coaches and Athletic Directors are engaging in interactive discussions on how to combat racial discrimination, champion moral courage, and empower their programs to create positive change in their communities. The Central Suburban League (CSL) has launched a new program: Building a More Inclusive CSL. The mission of the 6-part virtual workshop is to help our student-athletes and coaches learn and grow to become inclusive, anti-racist leaders within their teams, schools, and communities.