INSIGHT: Knowing Our Kids – EICL Parent/Guardian Night and Culture Night

by Bess McKinney, EICL Co-Coordinator

When I pick my three-year-old up from preschool, he is clear that he would like a snack, he would like to listen to “Baby Beluga,” and he would like to go to the library or the fire station or other post-preschool spot. What he is not clear about is how he spent his day. If I make the mistake of asking how his day was, he will more than likely say, “I don’t know, Mama.” In that way, he is, I think, not all that different from many EPS students when you pick them up or see them after school. It wasn’t until I became a parent that I realized what a black box the seven or so hours that our kids spend at school can be for us, their parents and guardians.

Dr. Castro and I know that it’s unlikely that many of you hear from your kids about all the various ways equity, inclusion, and compassionate leadership is woven throughout their days. We also know that, just as with other parts of your students’ school day, understanding what EICL at EPS is and how it might show up in a day will help you be the best parent and best supporter of your student. An integral part of EICL work is connection and dialogue across and through difference, and we can’t do that fully without YOU, the parents and guardians in our community. So, we invite you to join us for two upcoming events to learn more about what EICL is at EPS and to be in dialogue with us about it: First, EICL Parent and Guardian Night on January 24 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM and Culture Night, sponsored by the Upper School Allies for Equity Club, on February 29 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. During EICL Parent and Guardian Night we will be joined by Dr. Heather Clark, a cultural anthropologist and visiting thinker who has worked with our faculty and staff to explore our culture and equity and inclusion. To RSVP for this event, please complete this form. And for more information on Culture Night, read on!

We hope that, by attending these events, you can be in conversation with us and, ultimately, your student about EICL at EPS.