Social justice in the classroom

The Advent School defines Social Justice as the active participation of all people in a society to equitably value and meet the needs of all individuals and communities.

In the classroom, we cultivate ethical habits of thought and action using a framework from the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Learning for Justice: Identity, Diversity, Justice, and Action. In developmentally appropriate ways at each grade level, students reflect on who they are and where they come from, learn to appreciate the diverse experiences and perspectives of those around them, and develop a growing sense of fairness and responsibility.

Over time, these principles become powerful lenses for understanding the wider world.

As students study history, literature, and current events, they explore social movements, examine questions of equity, reflect on complex issues, and consider how their own ideas and voices can contribute to positive change.

In First Grade, the question “where does our food come from?” led students to research and learn about rural vs urban farms, and to discuss big ideas like “what does it mean to have access to basic needs?”

In Second Grade, a study of social movements throughout history inspired students to use their voices to advocate in support of Boston’s African Meeting House when they discovered that funding for this important piece of local and national history had been cut.

Advent's Buddy program pairs upper and lower-grade students for cross-grade connections. Every student in pre-K through Second Grade is paired with an Upper School "buddy" for the duration of the school year. They enjoy regular in-school meetups, playground hangouts, and classroom activities, fostering a strong sense of community.

Social-emotional Learning

Research shows, and we feel strongly, that students are best able to access academics when they feel safe, cared for, and positive about themselves and their abilities. To this end, we believe that social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies must be taught as explicitly as we teach any other subject to our students and represent an integral part of our curriculum.

Our program is unique for a number of reasons. Most notably, we are intentionally integrating explicit SEL strategies with our study of Peaceful Changemakers. We define Changemakers as people who have made important positive changes in the world. Our goals are to help students see the power of small changes, that Changemakers are all around them, and that they too have the skills required to be agents of change in their own communities and in the world. Our students see the strategies that they learn in the classroom used by these people as they work to affect change. This reinforces for them that the strategies are not just designed to help make it through school -- they are to build a foundation for making a difference throughout their entire lives. 

As a small independent school, The Advent School’s greatest resource is our passionate, creative, and collaborative faculty who all live, breath, and teach our mission each day. We are educating the next generation of students who will leave our school with a confident understanding of who they are as individuals, and the important role that they play as Changemakers in their communities and the world.