School District No. 35

Dear Students, Staff, and Parents/Guardians,

The Langley School District is excited to celebrate Diversity and Respect Week in our schools. In 2017, the Board of Education approved a motion to implement Diversity and Respect Week “to coincide with Pink Shirt Day in February to promote awareness, reconciliation, and inclusion for all members of the school community.”

As the District celebrates Diversity and Respect Week, one of the themes this year is “I belong. You belong. We all belong.” As educators, we know that when a student can walk into their school feeling safe, feeling a sense of belonging, and feeling like they can be themselves, they are more likely to be successful in school. The hope is for all students to be successful. The District recognizes that Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with diverse abilities have not always been made to feel this way in schools. That is why, during Diversity and Respect Week, students, staff, and families take part in events and initiatives at schools that celebrate the work that happens all year long to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

The District’s continued actions to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion include:

1. Ensuring the District’s work is rooted in nə́c̓ɑʔmat and ya:y̓əstəl̕, which in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm means one heart, one mind and working together respectively.
2. Ensuring the District’s work is centered around teaching and learning curriculum that fosters a positive personal and cultural identity in our students and staff.
3. Ensuring the District’s work happens throughout the year and not just during this one week.

The District’s actions completed and in progress to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion include:

• A focus on Ensouling Our Schools, which are Inclusive and Compassionate Classroom Practices, Inclusive Instructional Practices and Inclusive Systems and Structures.
• The development of a vision and strategy to confront anti-Indigenous racism and racism in schools.
• The continuation of Gay Straight Alliances (GSA) in schools.
• The development of Langley’s Social Emotional Learning Guide for staff to help support students.
• The addition of Social Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department Heads and Team Leads at all middle and secondary schools.
• The creation of teacher resources to support student discussion, dialogue and understanding of each other.

The District is proud of the collective efforts of our students, staff, and families in helping individuals feel a sense of belonging and we acknowledge that more work is needed. The District is encouraging all members of the community to join us in this work. Thank you for your ongoing support in fulfilling the concept of “Every Child Matters”.

Sincerely,

Mal Gill
Superintendent of Schools