Thriving Together: DEIB at Westside — Fall 2025

At Westside, our work in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) happens at every level of our community, from governance to classrooms. Two key groups help guide this work: the Board DEIB Committee and the DEIB Task Force.

The Board DEIB Committee focuses on strategy and governance, ensuring that DEIB remains central to decision-making at the institutional level. This group partners closely with school leadership to shape policy, guide priorities, and evaluate progress toward long-term goals.

The DEIB Task Force is a team of faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as the WFA co-president and DEIB Board chair, who implement those goals. They focus on students' and educators' day-to-day experiences, identifying opportunities to strengthen inclusion, celebrate diversity, and build a deeper sense of belonging throughout the school.

Together, these two groups help Westside live its mission and vision—ensuring that every member of our community feels seen, valued, and supported.

Board DEIB Committee Update

On October 13, the Board DEIB Committee held its first meeting of the year. The group reflected on Westside’s four DEIB pillars:

• Cultivate and sustain a diverse student community
• Attract and retain diverse faculty and staff
• Support the growth of DEIB knowledge across all constituents
• Foster a culture of belonging that is inclusive and connected

Discussion among committee members showed that DEIB is viewed as foundational, evolving, and central to Westside’s culture. Current supports include newsletters, cultural events, student affinity groups, trustee and community education, and visible inclusive practices.

Opportunities for growth include:

• More consistent and visible DEIB messaging
• Expanded family education opportunities (e.g., speakers, book clubs)
• Greater inclusion across events and communications
• Stronger feedback loops and community dialogue

The committee looks forward to working closely with the DEIB Task Force and the whole Westside community to nurture a culture where every student, family, and staff member feels seen, valued, and connected.

DEIB Task Force Update

The DEIB Task Force plays an important role in bringing these goals to life. In their October 29 meeting, members—including Catey Juravich, Nicole Caden, Tami Elwin, Michael Le, Radhika Makhija, Kalei Sabaratnam, Gina Griffiths, Kajal Maniar, and Dr. Daryl Wright—discussed several areas of focus: improving scheduling around religious observances, deepening curriculum connections to cultural events, ensuring equitable resource allocation, expanding DEIB-related professional development, and improving communication with families.

Through this work, the Task Force continues to support a school environment where every student and staff member feels respected and included.

Cultural Celebrations Around Westside

This fall, classrooms across campus have been filled with stories, art, music, and celebrations that highlight the many cultures and traditions represented in our community.

Students began the year by celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, learning about artists like Frida Kahlo, creating traditional crafts, and dancing with La Clave Cubana, a Cuban salsa group that led our all-school assembly. 

Students also learned about the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, reflecting on themes of renewal and forgiveness. Lessons about Indigenous Peoples’ Day invited students to explore Native history, environmental stewardship, and the local heritage of the Duwamish and Muckleshoot tribes.

Families have been an important part of this season’s cultural celebrations, sharing traditions and stories across events like Diwali, Día de los Muertos, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Mandarin classes, students celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with stories, vocabulary lessons, moon-themed art, and traditional treats. Fourth graders held a morning celebration of Día de los Muertos, enjoying activities, traditional foods, and games, while students in lower and middle school Spanish classes came together to make papel picado to decorate their classrooms. A community ofrenda in the school lobby invites families to add photos honoring loved ones—creating a shared space of remembrance and connection.

Across grade levels, teachers have used literature, music, and art to help students see how culture connects to identity and community. Students are exploring how belonging grows when we share who we are and learn from one another.

Families who wish to share their own cultural traditions or holidays are encouraged to connect with their child’s teacher—we love learning from one another and celebrating the many ways our community comes together.