Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
God is present everywhere, and every person is God's work
Saint Francis de Sales
Visitation School provides a warm, welcoming environment. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are essential components to an excellent education and developing global leaders. At Visitation, this work stems from our deep roots, is fueled by the passion of an exceptional community and is of ongoing importance for our school every day.
Visitation is a place where many voices, experiences, perspectives, positions and identities come together, and we remain united through our Catholic, Salesian heritage and humanity.
Commitment to DEIB
At Visitation School, we honor the unique individuality of every member of our community. We strive to cultivate a faith-centered community that encourages all our members to appreciate the richness of diversity and uphold the inherent dignity of each individual.
Our founders, Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane de Chantal, have bestowed upon us the invaluable wisdom to approach each moment with steadfast trust in God's abiding presence within our minds and hearts. Embracing this awareness of God's presence in our daily lives enables us to foster a culture of love, care, and authenticity in our interactions. Our mission serves as our guiding light, emphasizing the significance of human life and the inherent dignity of all individuals. We adamantly stand against racism, violence, and injustice in any manifestation, recognizing that our commitment to this cause is ongoing.
Within the core of our identity is the Salesian charism that calls us to "Live + Jesus" in every encounter we have. Saint Francis reminds us “God is present everywhere and every person is God’s work.” We seek God's strength and wisdom, fully aware of our divine calling to be instruments of God's compassion and justice. Let us forge ahead together, committed to building a more just and equitable world.
Rene Gavic, Head of School
Unidiversity
by Danielle Harrison, M.A., J.D.
Not agreement, but connection
Not tolerance, but inclusion
Not fear, but wonder
Surrounded with love
Forming space to safely "BE WHO YOU ARE."
Allowing others to be authentically who God made them to be
Embracing the wonder of ALL God's creation
Surrounded in love
One Body - Many members
Working together to heal the world
This vision needs all of us to bring it to pass-
Surrounded by love
Diversity Statement
At Visitation School, we are called by our Catholic, Salesian tradition and as people of God to hold ourselves, our school and our community accountable for sustaining an environment of respect, where multiple experiences and perspectives thrive, and where each individual in our community is treated with his or her God-given dignity and value. Guiding Principles:
- We believe Visitation School is a place where many voices, experiences, perspectives, positions and identities come together -- and where we unite through our commitment to Catholic social teachings and our shared humanity.
- We believe diversity includes a wide range of individual characteristics. These may include race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, age, academic abilities, physical abilities and religious beliefs. Through mutual recognition and respect for one another’s unique and diverse existence, we strive to uphold a strong solidarity as members of the human family and experience.
- The Visitation Sisters and the Salesian virtues they extend give meaning and formation to our school’s work on diversity and inclusiveness. We believe that the Sisters’ history of living Jesus and their leadership with the Salesian teachings of humility, gentle strength, optimism, patience and heart-to-heart relationships guide our ongoing work.
“Be who you are and be that well to give honor to the Master Craftsman whose handiwork you are.”
Saint Francis de Sales