Diversity & Belonging

At Charlotte Christian School we seek to foster a community that impacts the culture for Christ by actively reflecting His command to live in unity and reconciliation with one another. We aim to share and embrace our unique backgrounds and experiences in order to create awareness and appreciation for the perspective of others. We are committed to creating a community of love, compassion and belonging on our campus and within our classrooms.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

Building authentic community

Through authentic and intentional learning opportunities, our students are able to strengthen their ability to have cultural empathy, global awareness and a posture of humility, while seeking unity within our differences. Through cross-cultural development and purposeful guidance from both teachers and administration, students learn how to best cultivate relationships that depict the essence of the body of Christ - one in which seeks similarities, while appreciating our unique backgrounds.

Fostering courageous conversations

Our community engages in collaborative conversations to assess our school culture, curriculum and best practices. As a college preparatory school, we strive to provide real-life skills that best equip our students to be competent and confident intercultural communicators. We want them to be comfortable with tackling hard topics by providing a clear understanding of what the Bible has to say about the world around them. In our efforts in creating an environment in which every child feels valued, heard and seen, we receive ongoing feedback from our students and alumni so that we can best learn how to be most effective in our pursuit of creating an atmosphere that is committed to diversity and belonging. We engage in honest and candid dialogue with both teachers and administrators, while being proactive in addressing the real needs that are being expressed.

Strengthening our programs

We approach issues around Biblical diversity and belonging from a developmental lens in each of our divisions. We believe that as part of God’s purposeful design, we are called to seek unity within our differences, and it’s through the power of His Holy Spirit that we are able to be reconciled to Him and to one another (John 17:20-23). Program expansion and strengthening are evident throughout our parent engagement opportunities, faculty training and development, and international exchange.

Community

EMPLOYEES

Through professional development and ongoing mentorship, our faculty and staff play a vital role in our school’s commitment to diversity and belonging. Under the guidance of the director of diversity and belonging, teachers are provided opportunities to engage in purposeful dialogue that aids them in their implementation of culturally responsive best practices in the classroom, while also properly navigating sensitive topics.

PARENTS

Our Romans 12 Initiative is a group made up of members of the CCS community that gather each month to engage in conversations around diversity, belonging, and Jesus’ command to live in unity and reconciliation with one another. The purpose of the groups is to learn how to embrace and share our unique histories and experiences while creating awareness and appreciation for the experiences of others. Romans 12 members volunteer across our campus and our community, and they bring unique experiences and perspectives that strengthen our multicultural and global awareness.

Lower School

In lower school, our focus begins with the Biblical understanding that we are made in God’s image and that we each are a reflection of His beautiful, diverse creation. (Genesis 1:27) Students engage in meaningful lessons that focus on the Biblical truths that we are seen, heard and highly valued by a loving and redemptive God. Through ongoing discipleship, innovative learning opportunities and weekly chapels, our students further deepen their understanding of the unique calling that God has placed in each of their lives. They actively participate in discussions that help strengthen their multicultural awareness as well as build empathy and understanding for the experience of others. During their time in Lower School, students have the opportunity to learn about and celebrate other cultures, explore global heritages and expand their understanding of God’s world through literature, guest speakers and project-based activities.

Middle School

Middle school students engage in enriching learning opportunities that practically prepares them to impact the culture for Christ and become effective contributors and responsible Global Kingdom citizens. Cross-cultural development is continually fostered through the curriculum, such as world language classes celebrating heritage months, and enhanced by educational field trips to the Sudan Interior Missions (grade 6), the Butterfly Memorial dedicated to the Holocaust Museum (grade 7), and interactive activities related to Civil Rights Movement (grade 8), to name a few. Students strengthen their global awareness with the opportunity to hear from guest speakers, participate in dedicated multicultural assemblies and involvement in initiatives from our Global Knights student group.

Upper School

In upper school, emphasis is put on building and strengthening relationships with students by providing mentorship and counsel for how to best navigate difficult and/or culturally sensitive situations in their classrooms and amongst their peer groups. Thoughtful discussions centered around Biblical principles help guide students as they pursue unity, while also appreciating what makes us unique. Students are provided opportunities to celebrate cultures from around the world as well as gain perspective-building, an increase in empathy and intercultural communications with the support of staff, Global Knights Club, and the Global Awareness Prefect. Cross-cultural development opportunities are also presented in international travels through Winterim, service projects and community engagement throughout Charlotte.