At Beauvoir, The National Cathedral Elementary School, we are committed to our mission of being a diverse community that values every individual. As an Episcopal school, we honor the dignity of every human being as a valued and beloved child of God, embrace our Cathedral’s mission as A House of Prayer for All People, and welcome individuals of all faiths and none.
Guided by our Life Rules—kindness, respect, responsibility, and honesty—Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) are central to creating a reflective and inviting environment. Through carefully designed, age-appropriate, learning experiences, including our personalized DEIB curriculum, we lay a foundation for students to understand and appreciate differences. These learning opportunities extend to our entire community, including families, faculty, and staff.
By planting seeds of respect and empathy, we equip our young learners with the skills to think critically about their role in creating a more just and caring world. We strive for our graduates to be thoughtful about their identities and how they connect with the diverse experiences of others, embracing and celebrating differences. We encourage our students to carry Beauvoir’s values beyond our walls, continue to build awareness, and consider the impact they can make, both big and small.
“Children begin to notice and internalize social stereotypes and inequities at a very young age. It’s our responsibility as educators to help them develop positive self-identities and learn to treat others with fairness and respect.”
— Louise Derman Sparks
Our first graders kicked off the Lunar New Year festivities with a presentation led by language students from our neighbors at NCS and St. Albans. The celebration continued with activities in all grade levels— Lunar New Year story time, dragon dance with musical performances, and crafting workshops to welcome the Year of the Snake.
Hosted by the Inclusive Black Families Network, an affinity group under the arm of the Kaleidoscope Committee of the Parents Association, this special parent coffee event celebrated Black History Month by honoring the rich history and contributions of HBCUs and Divine 9 organizations.
Elite adaptive athletes from the Bionic Project joined us for three full days, spending time with every grade level and class to teach students about physical disabilities and empathy through education and sports.
We partner with families to explore holidays and events that are important in their cultures and lives.
In addition to events that take place throughout the month in classrooms, we share resources for families to explore at home.
Through events including author visits, musical guests, cooking demonstrations, and speakers, our students see themselves reflected in engaging ways while making new connections and developing global awareness.
DEIB Curriculum
Beauvoir students begin telling their own stories from the first time they walk through our doors. Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) curriculum was developed by Beauvoir faculty members after a school-wide, guided self-reflection, and survey of faculty and staff. Focused on four pillars
Beauvoir’s DEIB program responds to children’s own developmental milestones and helps students pursue social justice through the lens of Beauvoir’s Life Rules—kindness, respect, responsibility, and honesty.
Our parent and caregiver affinity groups include the following:
Kaleidoscope
The Parents Association Kaleidoscope Committee includes Beauvoir’s affinity groups and collaborates with the School to plan events to affirm and support the Beauvoir community in conversations related to diversity and inclusion. All parents are welcome and encouraged to support Kaleidoscope’s programming as volunteers and active participants.
Our faculty and staff affinity groups include the following:
Professional Development
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and Director of Beauvoir's Specialists
Partner Teacher, Pre-Kindergarten; Co-Chair, DEIB Curriculum Committee
Partner Teacher, First Grade; Co-Chair, DEIB Curriculum Committee
Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn
Head of School
