California Montessori Project Appreciation, Belonging, and Care Statement

“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are a part of the universe, and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.”

— Maria Montessori

CMP commits to cultivate, welcome, and celebrate diversity in order to fulfill our mission, affirm the principles of Montessori education, and carry out a responsible role in our community.

CMP endeavors to honor the qualities that make us similar to each other and those that make us different, co-creating a space that values and respects the race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, language, religion, socioeconomic status, gender identity, size, sexual orientation, relationship status or choice, and different levels of ability, exceptionalities, and neurodiversity of all students, families, and employees.

CMP promises to encourage everyone to choose respect over hate, embrace diversity, act with empathy and remind our community that being a global citizen comes with responsibility.

CMP works to promote a sense of appreciation, belonging and care for every learner, family, educator and employee. CMP will do this by:

· Recruiting and retaining a diverse student body.

· Hiring and retaining diverse staff.

· Exposing students to a well-rounded curriculum to prepare students to be global citizens.

· Empowering our students to become changemakers.

· Creating safe, and brave, spaces for all members of our community.

· Fostering learning environments that are accepting to everyone and represent everyone.

· Teaching and modeling to students how to show empathy, kindness, and gratitude to others.

· Creating a community that recognizes how we are alike and celebrates our differences.

· Creating safe, shame-free spaces for all members of our community where students and staff are supported in having crucial conversations centering

around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

· Treating every person with dignity, always seeking to understand and support, while also upholding these commitments.

CMP understands this effort is constantly evolving, and the achievement of such principles grows from the work of educating ourselves and each other as we address our biases and revisit program curriculums, classroom practices, and school policies. The empowerment of the members of our community will bring confidence and compassion for understanding, Our community will be able to communicate with a more inclusive language, challenge discrimination and stereotypes, and provide guidance.