12/02/2016
We heard back from several families who said they enjoyed our Thanksgiving message so we thought we'd share an excerpt with our Alumni below:
Living in a diverse, multicultural community–like our country or our school–is not an unchanging constant, it is an ongoing process of finding new ways to understand the people around us. In this time of change, the FASRI administrative team and faculty will continue to seek opportunities to grow in our understanding and respect for others. We wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm what we value:
We value people who come from different nations, and bring new ways of being into our understanding. The cultures represented in our school bring different forms of expression, other ways of living together, as well as new intellectual traditions and perspectives. We are proud of our commitment to educators and families who are new to this country. If you come from a different country, you enrich our community.
We value people of different beliefs. Whether your family is connected to a faith tradition or not; or if your religion differs from the people around you, you enrich our community.
We value families of all types at our school. Whether your family has one parent or two; parents who live apart or separately; parents of different genders; two mothers; or two fathers, you enrich our community.
We value the fact that our community represents a range in socioeconomic status. Our community is remarkably generous in the talent and the resources they bring to our growing school, and we strive to provide an education that creates opportunities for all students. No matter what your socioeconomic status may be, you enrich our community.
We value the racial diversity of our community. As an institution, we reject the perpetuation of racism in our society. If your skin is a different color from the people you pass in the hallway, or those in your classroom, you enrich our community.
Whatever the outcome of the presidential election had been, it is clear that our society is in need of greater unity. We are proud to be part of a community that not only tolerates differences but values them.
What does this mean for your children? We will continue to listen. In classrooms, teachers will give students the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings about the world around them, and help them listen to other points of view. We will continue to provide an excellent education and a multi-cultural foundation that allows the children in our care to connect well with people around them, appreciate differences and make a positive mark on the world.
The Faculty, Staff and the Board of Trustees
The French American School of Rhode Island