An Independent School • Grades 5-12

We Are Lakeside

Lakeside School's Parents and Guardians Association and diversity, equity, and inclusion team have collaborated to present We Are Lakeside, an introductory online education module that invites parents and guardians to be active participants in and owners of the work of making Lakeside a truly equitable and inclusive community.

Through a series of videos and activities, We Are Lakeside aims to inspire curiosity about diversity and inclusion, and act as a springboard to learn how we can collectively and individually make our community more equitable and inclusive by embracing the diversity of our backgrounds and our lived experiences. We ask that all parents and guardians commit to the same learning journey as students and school employees through Our Work Together, so that all members of our Lakeside community are seen, valued, and heard.

After viewing each video segment, Lakeside parents and guardians are asked to please respond to corresponding questions. You will be prompted for your Veracross login at the link below. 

PRO TIP: Keep the questionnaire open in one browser tab, and view the videos in this tab. The video series and questions will take approximately 30 minutes.

We are Lakeside questionnaire

Segment 1: Our Commitment / Then and Now

Answer the Segment 1 question using the We are Lakeside questionnaire link above.

Segment 2: I am Lakeside / From the Board

Answer the Segment 2 question using the We are Lakeside questionnaire link above.

Segment 3: Growth and Connection / We Are Lakeside

As parents and guardians, you play an important role in setting the tone for this very important work. Not only are there things you can do as an individual, but there are many actions you can take that involve others. Here are some ideas about how you can take action to help make our community more equitable and inclusive so that all of our children feel seen, heard, valued, and loved.

Individual actions

  • Read through the PGA -DEI webpages.
  • Attend a webinar focused on equity and inclusion.
  • Borrow a book from the PGA lending library.
  • Check your local library for curated lists on DEI topics. Seattle Public Library will pick five books just for you, and the King County Library System has booklists on diversity and inclusion.
  • Check out the comprehensive list of resources.
  • Read up on various diversity and inclusion terms and definitions.
  • Engage in exercises on identity and inclusion.
  • Do a self-assessment exercise and increase self-awareness around issues of diversity and inclusion.
  • Diversify your news sources.
  • Discuss how world events may be impacting people in our community differently, depending on their lived realities and resources.
  • Enroll in or audit courses related to equity, diversity and inclusion.
  • Learn about implicit bias and microaggressions.
  • Support anti-racist campaigns.
  • Complete anti-discrimination or bystander intervention training.
  • Validate and acknowledge others' experiences of racial injustice.
  • Support businesses owned by people of color.
  • Attend and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion events.
  • Seek out the work, art, and literature of those who look and believe differently from you.

Collective actions

  • Attend a T.J. Vassar Diversity and Community Committee meeting.
  • Participate in a PGA affinity or alliance group.
  • Join the T.J. Vassar Book Club.
  • Make an effort to talk to other parents and guardians, especially those you might not have sought out in the past.
  • Reach out to parents and guardians who might be shy about speaking out first.
  • When planning events, try to make sure they are inclusive socioeconomically.
  • Seek understanding. We don’t have to agree with each other to understand each other.
  • Be an ally; offer feedback and engage in dialogue with the intention of connecting with other community members and building trust.
  • Model for kids what it means to be in community. 
  • Support each other when we are harmed unintentionally.

When we build supportive relationships and connect across our differences, we cultivate an inclusive community in which every person feels that they belong. And when your kids see you engaging in this very important work, they will see that effort and, in turn, engage with these issues with the kind of focus they need to be able to build themselves into the next generation’s positive change-makers.

Answer the remaining questions using the We are Lakeside questionnaire link above.

Thank you for helping to strengthen our Lakeside community.