Message from the OIEJB: April 2026

By Terrell Davis, Director of the Office of Inclusion, Equity, Justice, and Belonging

April offered many opportunities across Sandy Spring Friends School for reflection, learning, and connection as members of our community observed important cultural and religious traditions and continued participating in programming that supports belonging across divisions.

Arab American Heritage Month

Throughout April, SSFS is recognizing Arab American Heritage Month, creating opportunities for students to learn about the history, cultures, and contributions of Arab American individuals and communities. Across divisions, students engaged with stories and experiences that highlighted the richness and diversity of Arab American identity and explored how cultural heritage shapes both individual identity and community life.

Lower School students will participate in age-appropriate learning experiences in recognition of Arab American Heritage Month. Through read-alouds, classroom conversations, and community activities, students will explore stories that highlight the cultures, traditions, and contributions of Arab American individuals and communities. In the Middle School, students will participate in a read-aloud experience connected with activities designed to help them engage more deeply with elements of Arab American culture. These experiences help students develop curiosity, empathy, and appreciation for the diverse identities that shape our broader community, while reinforcing SSFS’s commitment to belonging and respect across divisions.

In the Upper School, students will engage with a display highlighting poetry by Arab American authors. The selected works invite reflection on themes such as perseverance, empathy, kindness, and identity, offering students an opportunity to encounter contemporary voices and perspectives that continue shaping the Arab American experience today.

Supporting Student Voice and Belonging

Beginning in May, the Office of Institutional Equity, Justice & Belonging will launch small-group listening circles with Middle and Upper School students. These rotating conversations create an intentional space for students to share how they experience belonging in their day-to-day school lives—not only in response to specific moments, but as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening a culture of connection and community together.

Insights from these conversations will help inform future programming and partnerships across divisions.

Identity Learning and Community Care

We also continued individual learning sessions with students focused on understanding the impact of identity-based language and the importance of community responsibility. These conversations support students in exploring the difference between intent and impact, understanding the historical context of certain words and expressions, and practicing ways to be thoughtful upstanders within our community.

This work reflects SSFS’s ongoing commitment to responding to moments of harm with opportunities for learning, growth, and restoration.

Religious Observances in Our Community

April included several important religious observances for members of the SSFS community.

Passover, which began in early April this year, continued through the first part of the month. During Passover, some students and families observe dietary practices connected to the holiday, including eating matzah and avoiding chametz. As always, we encourage open communication between families and teachers to help support students observing the holiday in ways that are meaningful to them.

Many members of the community also continued observing Lent, the Christian season of reflection and preparation leading up to Easter. During Lent, some individuals participate in practices such as prayer, fasting, and acts of service as part of their spiritual observance. Teachers may notice students engaging with these traditions in different ways throughout the season.

Later in the month, many members of the community observed Easter, a Christian holiday centered on themes of renewal, hope, and celebration. Some community members also observe Orthodox Easter, which follows a different calendar and was celebrated this year on April 12. Recognizing these observances helps us honor the diverse faith traditions present across our school community.

Family Affinity Spaces

Family partnership continues to be an important part of strengthening belonging at SSFS. This spring, two parent affinity groups continued meeting:

• Jewish Parent Affinity Group
• Neurodiverse Parent Affinity Group

These spaces provide opportunities for connection, shared experience, and conversation, and we are grateful to the families helping shape these communities together.