Global Fair, Day of Silence, Conference Celebrate Diversity and Inclusivity
The Rivers community came together this week to celebrate the variety of cultures our members embrace and to acknowledge the challenges some students face in today’s society. Students, parents, and faculty shared their favorite foods and traditions at the Global Fair in Kraft Dining Hall on April 13, followed by participation in the Day of Silence on April 15.
Families hosting tables at the Global Fair served up cuisine from the many countries they—or their ancestors—call home, including Armenia, India, Canada, France, Morocco, Korea, Ireland, Lebanon, Japan, Uganda, Spain, China, Greece, Haiti, Ireland, and Australia. Some tables, like France, were hosted by foreign language classes, and representative flags, artwork, and clothing added to the festive atmosphere.
The evening also featured the band Criollo Clasico, one of the most renowned ensembles for Puerto Rican/Latin music in the nation. Their upbeat tempo led to lots of foot-tapping as they encouraged a few brave souls to try out their dance steps.
The event was a fun-filled counterpoint to the more sobering Day of Silence—the largest student-led national day of action, during which students take a vow of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools. At the Friday morning assembly, GSA advisor Jennifer Dalton opened the program by sharing statistics about the detrimental effect of bullying on such students. Members of GSA then talked about the recent legislative measures aimed at limiting the rights of LGBTs and the negative reaction from major corporations to the Georgia and North Carolina initiatives.
The assembly concluded with a performance by the Middle School chorus of “I Ask For One Day,” composed by Jim Papoulis, and based on a poem by a seventh grader. The moving—and hopeful—lyrics begin, “I ask for one day where I don't have to hear about pain, or life that's lost, I ask for one day where whispers of hope are alive inside my heart.”
Click here to view the Middle School Chorus performing “I Ask for One Day.”
Earlier in the month, Director of Diversity and Inclusivity John Bower and science teacher Nicole Guynn accompanied 11 Rivers students to the annual AISNE Students of Color Conference. The two-day conference, held this year at the Pingree School, featured workshops and keynote speakers who addressed a variety of topics surrounding diversity and inclusivity. The students attending were Gaby Romero '16, Rashelle Centeio '16, Isabel Sharpe '16, Ellen Marius '16, Marlayeeka Valcourt '16, Joshua Polanco Calderon '17, Gianny Cepeda '18, Chrismary Gonzalez '18, Khloe Katende '18, Kira Iacopucci '18, and Thando Khumalo '19.
“The overarching goal for the students was to ‘own all of oneself,’” said Ms. Guynn, who led one of the affinity groups at the conference with Mr. Bower. “Students were asked to uncover what it means to be who you are. They talked about how to take those things that make up who you are—both the good and the bad—and then ‘be who you are.’ They all appreciated the opportunity to be surrounded at the conference by others who shared their own interest in diversity and inclusivity.”
© 2021 The Rivers School. All Rights Reserved
Rivers admits academically qualified students and does not discriminate against students or families on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnic or national origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs, and other school-administered programs.