Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School is a better place because it welcomes children, families, faculty and staff members who demonstrate the range of differences that enrich humanity. We 
stand for respect, inclusivity and the deep-seated belief in the value of all people. We believe that children and families who reflect a range of backgrounds, including faith traditions, racial, cultural, ethnic, economic, social and sexual orientation make our community richer. Our educational programs and our school activities are designed to prepare our students to be global citizens. To that end we strive to educate our children and community to better understand, appreciate and value the range of faces, voices and differences that we find in the world around us.
Activities and events celebrating our unique heritages, family systems and the tremendous diversity with which we're blessed in the Bay Area, are incorporated throughout the curriculum in a variety of age-appropriate ways. While not an exhaustive list, here are several examples of how cross cultural studies are incorporated in the curriculum:
From Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, Language Arts and Literature provide rich opportunities to explore other cultures and lifestyles. Pre-K through 3rd grade utilize the SRA Program
“Imagine It” curriculum as a foundation for language arts.
”Imagine It”
provides literature and background history for various cultures
embedded in the curriculum. Students can make connections between the
culture of the
characters in literature and in their own lives and share
their own culture with the class.
In Middle School, students read a variety of novels by non-white and/or non-America authors. In sixth grade, students dig into "coming of age" novels featuring African American, Korean, Caucasian, underprivileged, affluent, orphaned, male and female protagonists. In seventh grade, students research the life and work of John Steinbeck, including his commitment
to marginalized people groups, and they read Steinbeck’s
The Pearl,
based on a Mexican folk tale that tells the plight of the native
Mexicans under Spanish colonialism. During a unit on Lois Lowry’s
The
Giver, students explore dystopian homogenized world stripped of
diversity and debate the merits of freedom vs. “sameness.” They also
read Sandra Cisneros’s
autobiographically inspired novella
The House on Mango Street. In 8th grade, students read
Children of the River by Linda Crew,
depicting a young Cambodian girl and her struggles as she flees her
country and finds safety in America. They follow that with
Night by Elie Wiesel, which is a personal account of a
Holocaust survivor. Students learn
that many other ethnic groups, various religions, gypsies, and
homosexuals were persecuted in addition to Jewish people. This theme is
continued throughout the year using
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee,
Romeo and
Juliet by William Shakespeare, and
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. These
studies help students realize the danger of prejudice and exclusion and
instill in them a desire to embrace all cultures and diversity.
Through their time at Saint Andrew's, students would encounter a
variety of cross cultural Social Studies units. In Kindergarten,
students create 'tours' of the continents where they are introduced to
artifacts,
enjoy cultural foods, and learn about the language and geography. In
Second Grade each student explores and reports on his/her ancestry by
conducting interviews that
provide traditions, language, and cultural information. They present
their reports to family and friends at the Annual Heritage Luncheon - an
international potluck.
In sixth grade, students learn
about a number of ancient civilizations. Cultural norms such as religious practices,
government structures, and societal practices are studied, making global
connections to modern-day events and people. At the completion of the
ancient India and China units, students enjoy traditional Indian and
Chinese food, and parents often give a cultural presentation to the
students. In
7th grade, students study the medieval cultures of Europe, Asia and
the Muslim Empire. In addition, students examine the Renaissance,
Religious Reformation, Scientific Revolution and the interactions
between diverse people during the Age of Exploration, Enlightenment and
Reason.
Our studies of Spanish also run from Pre-Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. While introductory vocabulary and sentence structure is discussed, the emphasis in Lower School is on learning about the Latin culture, countries and holidays. Dia de Los Muertos and Cinco de Mayo are among some of the holidays
observed. Students learn about different Spanish cultures though videos,
crafts, and historical and cultural books. In Middle School, Spanish is included in our core curriculum. Students attend Spanish class every day. Students build vocabulary and conversation skills in the Spanish-only environment while discussing Spanish speaking countries, cultures and traditions.
"If you want to measure the spiritual depth of society, make sure to mark it's music." - Plato
Cultural diversity is incorporated in the music
curriculum with the exploration and study of historical perspectives,
various genres and styles, and a rich and comprehensive selection of
diverse repertoire. Students explore, study, and play music from
African, South American, European and
American cultures. In earlier grades it's listening and moving to the music, talking about the instruments they hear and their origins. By middle school, they're playing many of those instruments, playing music in a variety of genres and styles created by composers born around the globe.
As an Episcopal school, Saint Andrew's has, in its very roots, a tradition of celebrating diverse religious beliefs. Students read and discuss stories from many world religions including Hinduism,
Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. As part of the fourth grade California unit, students learn about Native American faith traditions. When possible, the school
invites guests to talk about the origins, traditions and major holidays
of these religions. Students are encouraged to share their belief
system and parents often volunteer to facilitate holiday celebrations
such as Diwali and Hanukkah. In seventh grade, students take field trips to a synagogue, a mosque and
a Hindu temple. 8th graders study ethics in all religions.
In art class, artists from other parts of our country as well as
from other parts of the world are studied as a creative starting point
for students’ work. By seeing how different artists relate to their own
world and culture, students find new and interesting ways to relate to
the world and to accept diversity and embrace
it.
In addition to formal, in-class curriculum topics, students regularly discuss world events, and the school often takes time to celebrate and acknowledge significant cultural experiences. Lunar New Year is celebrated annually with a dragon dance performance and parent-hosted booths and displays discussing the significance of the holiday throughout Asia. Black history month is also acknowledged within classrooms and chapel, and celebrated with special outside performances. The school provides opportunities for international field trips and has created connections between Saint Andrew's and schools abroad as well.