Equity and Inclusive Education

Equity and Inclusive Education

Guided by the results of a school climate survey in the spring of 2018, Rainbow District School Board continues to make Equity and Inclusive Education a priority. The Board is committed to ensuring that all students and staff work in learning environments that are safe, welcoming and inclusive, the building blocks for student achievement and well-being.

Staff explored the impact of poverty on learning and shared strategies to meet the needs of all students regardless of socio-economic barriers.

All of the Board’s secondary schools have Gay Straight Alliances. They are designed to support students who identify as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited or questioning, and students who may have friends, parents or other family members from these communities.

Rainbow holds a long-standing relationship with the Canadian Centre for Gender and sexual Diversity, formerly Jer’s Vision. Founder Jeremy Dias has delivered several presentations in Rainbow Schools, and has help to foster the ongoing creation of positive school cultures where diversity is accepted and respected.

In the past, Rainbow has partnered with Dias to host the Embrace Diversity: Free to Be Me Conference (formerly Dare to Stand Out Conference) at various Rainbow secondary schools, and continues to utilize The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity as a valuable resource in the ongoing planning of future conference.

Embrace Diversity
Free to Be Me Conference

The Free to Be Me Conference is an annual event which brings together students who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ and their allies. The conference allows students to select from a range of age-appropriate workshops as well as provides an opportunity to build new friendships with students from other schools.

Students address issues and brainstorm solutions to increase a sense of safety and belonging in their school communities. Students choose workshops that are relevant and meet their needs. The goal of the conference is to give students tools they can bring back to their schools to support their communities.

Thursday, March 28, 2024
Grades 7 and 8

Tuesday, April 18, 2024
Grades 9 to 12

Equity Posts on Facebook

Rainbow District School Board is committed to ensuring that diversity is represented and valued in all of the work that we do. Part of that commitment includes Facebook posts that recognize and honour days of significance. Schools are encouraged to share these posts on their school Facebook pages in order to build a greater understanding of the growing diversity throughout Rainbow Schools.

Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy

School leaders and classroom teachers continue to develop fluency in delivering academic content through Culturally
Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy (CRRP). CRRP is a framework for building positive schools and classroom environments, improving student responsibility and success, encouraging parent-school relationships, and building strong community connections. This framework recognizes that all students learn in ways that are connected to their background, language, family structure, and social or cultural identity.

Culturally relevant and responsive teachers meet students where they are and understand who they are. CRRP helps students to strengthen their sense of identity and develop a positive self-image. It also affirms the worth of all students. CRRP helps create inclusive environments that recognize and celebrate all identities, lived experiences and cultures.

Anti-Racism Working Group

During the 2022-2023 school year, Rainbow District School Board facilitated its first Anti-Racism Working Group. This group included representatives from a variety of community organizations as well as members of different employee groups
within the Board. The goal was to create stronger connections between the Board and the community while gaining a better
understanding of the resources available to support staff, students, families and schools.

When we work together to address racism, we create school cultures that are safe, welcoming and accepting for all students.

Equity Posters

A series of posters promoting equity and inclusion were distributed to all Rainbow Schools in September 2016.

Dealing Directly with Language