Fostering a culture of belonging is a critical component of GISB’s mission to inspire curiosity, imagination, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning. GISB respects and values members of all races, religions, sexual orientations, identities and backgrounds, abilities, learning profiles, languages, and cultural backgrounds. Diversity on our campus enriches the learning experience and provides opportunities for critical thinking, discussion, and reflection.

As an international school representing more than 45 nationalities and 25 languages, we welcome and support different perspectives, interests, cultures, backgrounds, and more. With this in mind, we bring with us in everything that we do from the student, staff, and broader community levels, the following commitments. 

We are committed to:

• Providing ongoing training and professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and administrators to increase their awareness, knowledge, skills, and practices related to fostering an inclusive and supportive school environment.
• Embedding principles of respect, inclusion, and cultural understanding in the school’s curriculum, policies, procedures, and programs, including but not limited to student and staff recruitment and retention, evaluation, promotion, and disciplinary processes.
• Creating and sustaining a safe, welcoming, and affirming school environment for all students, families, and staff, regardless of their backgrounds and experiences, through the use of restorative justice, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive practices.
• Establishing and maintaining partnerships with local organizations, experts, and leaders who can offer support, resources, and guidance on fostering an inclusive and supportive school culture.
• Fostering a culture of dialogue, empathy, and mutual respect by encouraging and facilitating honest and constructive conversations among members of the school community.
• Ensuring that school policies and practices are responsive to the needs and concerns of all members of the community and that diverse voices and perspectives are heard and incorporated into decision-making processes.
• Evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness and impact of our efforts on an ongoing basis, using data, feedback, and other evidence to inform continuous improvement and accountability.

All members of the school community drive the mission to develop lifelong learners who are engaged, curious, and committed to supporting a safe and welcoming space (Schutzraum Schule – Safe School) where all individuals are respected and valued. Faculty and staff work together on various levels to provide a secure and supportive learning environment for all students, including, but not limited to, work groups (e.g., GISB Anti-Bias Task Force), individually in the classroom (curriculum, materials, student seminars from outside providers), and from a school-wide perspective (Bullying Prevention and Intervention framework, student and staff training). This multi-tiered approach allows us to address this important work at all levels within the school.

Objectives

1. Identify new enrollment and recruitment tools and hiring practices that attract and retain a broad range of staff and students.
2. Identify section-specific assessment tools to review curriculum, classroom materials, and educational outcomes in the context of diverse perspectives and experiences.
3. Support the implementation of inclusive and equitable teaching practices.
4. Engage GISB staff in anti-bias training and professional development.
5. Develop protocols for managing conflicts or sensitive situations, including restorative frameworks and discipline.

GISB Campus Initiatives and School Programming

• Regular curriculum reviews to ensure a broad representation of perspectives and experiences in the classroom.
• Visual representations in school buildings showcasing the contributions of individuals from various backgrounds.
• Form school and neighborhood partnerships.
• Recruitment, hiring, and retention efforts to support a diverse staff.
• Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan and framework to ensure a safe learning environment for all of our students and staff.
• GISB Anti-Bias Task Force
• Gender Sexuality Alliance (open to all members of the community)
• Annual School Climate Surveys
• MARC Training: Anti-Bias and Diversity Training for Staff