About
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Tenacre
Tenacre’s community comprises students, families, faculty, and staff from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities. We support the diversity of our community through inclusive practices that value the culture, perspectives, beliefs, history, and customs of each community member, helping students appreciate, explore, and respect the differences and similarities they encounter among peers and adults at school and beyond. We pursue equity by providing students and staff with the necessary resources to support and challenge them in their academic work at school.
From pre-k through grade 1, learning emphasizes self-discovery and community building. Teachers help students understand themselves, what they need, and how they contribute to a larger classroom community. This approach nurtures curiosity, confidence, and respect for others, while fostering a strong sense of belonging. By exploring their identities and relationships, students begin to make sense of the world and their place within it.
In grades 2–3, students expand their perspectives by exploring different types of communities, civic engagement, and the ways people care for one another. They study colonial and Native American history, western expansion, and civil rights, connecting the past to present-day life. Through these lessons, students develop empathy, compassion, and an understanding of leadership, all within a developmentally appropriate framework that nurtures and challenges them while reinforcing Tenacre’s mission-driven DEI approach.
In grades 4–6, students grow their sense of citizenship by exploring diverse cultures, world regions, and more U.S. history. They reflect on historical movements to understand how they shape current events in society today. Through these studies, students develop empathy, critical thinking, and broader perspectives, enabling them to become compassionate leaders both at school and beyond.
Tiger Time: Identity and Interest-Based Student Groups
List of 8 items.
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Boys to Men
Boys to Men offers students in grades 5 and 6 a welcoming and supportive space to explore topics related to male identity. Through discussions and collaborative projects, participants build confidence, strengthen their sense of self, and encourage one another. They reflect on what it means to be a boy at Tenacre and in the wider world, while also examining current events and trends that shape these experiences. Students develop practical ways to support themselves and their peers as they navigate the social dynamics common at this stage of development. -
Girls Can
Girls Can offers students in grades 5 and 6 a supportive and engaging space to explore topics related to female identity. Through discussions and collaborative projects, students build self-confidence, empower one another, and reflect on what it means to be a girl at Tenacre and in the wider world. Students also examine current events and trends affecting girls and develop strategies to support themselves and their peers as they navigate the social dynamics common at this age. -
Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch is a social group for students in grades 2 and 3 that meets once a month during lunch in a smaller, close-knit setting. Students of color have opportunities to share and reflect on their experiences, while all participants engage in conversations about families, cultures, and shared interests. Through read-alouds, group discussions, and other activities, students build friendships, get to know one another more deeply, and explore identity and community in the younger grades. -
Mochi Mates
Mochi Mates offers students in grades 4, 5, and 6 a space to explore topics related to Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) cultures and experiences. The group provides AAPI students with opportunities to share their heritage, lived experiences, and the pride they feel in this part of their identity, while all participants learn about diversity within the AAPI community. The group encourages friendship, fosters understanding, and helps students feel confident bringing their full selves to school. -
Multicultural Group
Multicultural Group provides students in grades 4, 5, and 6 with opportunities to connect across grades and learn more about the various cultures represented at Tenacre and around the world. Together, they explore the meaning of culture, compare and contrast their own cultural backgrounds with those of others, reflect on Tenacre’s school culture, and discuss ways to strengthen our inclusive school community. -
Stuversity
Stuversity offers students in grades 4, 5, and 6 a space to explore topics related to race, identity, and culture. The group provides students of color with opportunities to reflect on and share their experiences, while all participants engage in conversations about the commonalities and differences among various ethnic communities. Throughout the year, students build meaningful connections across grade levels, strengthening a sense of community and belonging. -
Tiger Tov
Tiger Tov offers students in grades 4, 5, and 6 a welcoming space to explore Jewish identity, culture, and lived experiences. The group provides Jewish students with opportunities to connect with one another and reflect on the pride they feel in this part of their identity, while all participants learn about the traditions, histories, and values within Jewish communities. Through discussions and shared activities, students explore how traditions can be both shared and unique, and reflect on the origins of their own family customs and cultural practices. -
Wakanda Style
Wakanda Style offers students in grades 4, 5, and 6 a space to explore Black and African American identity, culture, and experiences. The group provides Black and African American students opportunities to share their perspectives, build connections, and reflect on the pride they feel in this part of their identity, while all participants learn about the histories, cultures, and diverse identities within the African Diaspora. Through conversations and collaborative activities, the group fosters understanding, builds connections across grades, and encourages students to appreciate both shared and different experiences within the broader community.
*Please note that Identity and Interest-Based Student Groups are open to all students in the specified grades.
Tenacre Country Day School
78 Benvenue Street, Wellesley, MA 02482
P. 781-235-2282 F. 781-237-7057
Summer Programs 781-235-3238
