BELONGING & CONNECTION
The Office of Belonging and Connection works to ensure that every member of the Shipley community feels seen, valued, and supported. Guided by the Shipley Framework for Well-Being, we cultivate a culture where individuals can be their authentic selves while forming meaningful connections with others.
View Shipley's DEI Strategic Plan
Diversity, equity, and inclusion work constantly evolves, never ends, and impacts every member of a community. Shipley’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan is both an immediate and multi-year effort.
Learn more about Shipley's DEI Strategic Plan
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Community Commitment
Through education, engagement, and collaboration, this work is embedded into every aspect of school life—strengthening our shared commitment to personal growth, collective well-being, inclusivity, and compassionate participation in the world.
We are committed to cultivating an environment where all members of the Shipley community are engaged, feel respected and valued, grow as individuals, strive for excellence, and have the opportunity to do their best work.
We honor and value all differences and are committed to being a safe and inclusive environment for all people.
Our Goals
| Foster a Diverse Community |
| Foster a fully diverse and inclusive community. |
| Ensure Equitable Experiences |
| Ensure an equitable experience for all members of the community. |
| Provide Education |
| Create immediate and longer-term School-wide initiatives regarding belonging and connection at Shipley. Prepare students to be leaders in a global society. Commit to sustaining a vibrant, inclusive, and caring multicultural community. |
| Engage All Members of the Community |
| Involve all community voices from students, colleagues, families, and alumni. Ensure that cultural awareness and understanding are reflected in many areas of school life. |
| Be Accountable |
| Regularly review plan strategies and tactics to ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives both in the near and long-term. |
Reaffirming Our Core Values
In 2025, the Board of Trustees convened a Task Force to provide clarity and alignment on our shared values.
The resulting statement below rearticulates Shipley’s enduring commitment to belonging, inclusion, and educational excellence. While the world around Shipley remains challenging and many schools are navigating complex cultural dynamics, we continue to strive for a community where our students feel safe, supported, and empowered to be their best selves—whether in academics, the arts, or athletics.
This past year, in response to community feedback and a desire for clarity and alignment, the Board convened a Task Force to better understand the student experience and reaffirm our core values as a school. Following discussion and collaboration with administrators and community stakeholders, the Board fully supports the following statement and thanks the Task Force in its work by clarifying Shipley’s commitment to belonging, inclusion, and educational excellence:
At Shipley, we practice courage for the deed—the unwavering resolve to do what is right, even when it’s hard. We are committed to preparing students to become compassionate, thoughtful participants in the world. This commitment is grounded in a deep and enduring respect for the dignity and humanity of every person in our community—a respect that fosters belonging and affirms that everyone has a valued place here. Belonging is fundamental to the educational excellence we pursue—equipping students with the knowledge to form their own opinions and engage respectfully with diverse perspectives. This means challenging them to think critically and learn deeply, building the skills to analyze, synthesize, and apply their learning to real-world problems—preparing them for lifelong learning.
We are building and sustaining a community where inclusivity is not optional—it is essential. At Shipley, every individual is valued for who they are. We do not ask children—or anyone in our community—to change who they are in order to belong. Instead, we ask that they bring their full, authentic selves. In return, we commit to nurturing the courage to know oneself, the curiosity to understand others, and the empathy to engage across differences with open hearts and minds. |
At Shipley, we also practice grace for the doing.
We recognize that learning is a human process—imperfect, ongoing, and deeply meaningful. We make space for missteps, extend patience, and lift each other up as we grow. We will not let fear of failure block our path to growth. And we take seriously the covenant of community: to acknowledge missteps, heal, and engage one another with care.
At Shipley, we choose courage. We choose grace. We choose each other.
Our Work
We engage students, colleagues, and families in an array of learning experiences and community-building opportunities. Here are a few of the programs that the School offers and participates in:
| Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan |
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| Building Cultural Awareness & Empathy |
Students and colleagues participate in school-wide Belonging & Connection programming aimed at building cultural awareness and celebration in our community throughout the year, including:
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| Professional Development |
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| Affinity Groups & Heritage Clubs |
Leadership/GovernanceBoard of Trustees Belonging & Connection Committee The Board of Trustees' Belonging & Connection Committee serves as the primary provider of forward-looking Belonging & Connection policy and strategy, as well as mechanisms for administrative accountability.
Affinity Spaces & Heritage ClubsAffinity Spaces are created by colleagues and students at Shipley to allow connection through shared identities. These spaces allow for individuals to feel safe and sometimes heal with each other. Heritage Clubs explore one's identity through cultural interconnectedness to allow for the advancement and advocacy for one's heritage. Heritage clubs celebrate diversity through events.
Lower School Affinity Groups and Heritage ClubsOverview: Affinity groups in the Lower School serve to create a sense of belonging and affirm students' identities through gatherings and cultural celebrations.
Middle School Affinity Groups and Heritage ClubOverview: In the Middle School, we create safe cultural, racial, and heritage identity with gatherings, conversations, and celebrations. The Middle School supports programming with the Upper School.
Upper School Affinity Groups and Heritage ClubsOverview: Affinity groups and heritage clubs in the Upper School are responsible for youth-led programming and celebrations focused on identity,advocacy, and advancement. Their goal is to promote interconnectedness and understanding amongst the students.
Colleague Affinity Groups and Heritage ClubsOverview: Spaces created for colleagues with shared identities to come together to celebrate and build community with each other. This creates affirming and positive environments at Shipley.
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SEE WHAT MAKES SHIPLEY DIFFERENT |
| Ready to explore a school where academics are just the beginning? Visit us to experience how our approach to well-being, belonging, and compassionate participation helps students thrive—in school and beyond. |