Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice at Cedarwood

A fundamental principle of Waldorf Education is the respect for human rights and the diversity of humankind, as well as the belief that inclusivity and equality are both a moral and educational imperative.

As a community, Cedarwood Waldorf School actively welcomes children, faculty, staff, and families of all races, religions, gender identities, and family cultures. We strive to give all students, faculty, and families a sense of belonging and unity. Waldorf schools were founded over a century ago and at Cedarwood Waldorf we seek to evolve and better represent the many cultures of the world where each person feels seen and valued. It is an ongoing journey and we encourage our families to do this work in their homes, have conversations, be uncomfortable, and learn from mistakes.

The Board of Trustees and the Faculty at Cedarwood have developed statements of support for the work that each group is doing around equity. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Committee

DEIJ is a board-chartered work group that provides leadership, direction, and a prioritized work plan that aligns with Cedarwood’s Strategic Plan and school accreditation. The DEIJ Work Group is open to everyone in the Cedarwood community to inform and implement the two-year work plan. Examples of past DEIJ projects include recommending and coordinating a diverse selection of resources for the Cedarwood school library and coordinating DEIJ training and education.

If you are a current community member and wish to volunteer for the DEIJ workgroup, please email Marcee Hansen at mhansen@cedarwoodschool.org.

DEIJ Festivals and Celebrations

The Board of Trustees supports the equity-related work at Cedarwood, as identified in the school’s Strategic Plan and within its own work.  The Board adopted this Equity Statement in the spring of 2023.

September
Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15)
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur

October
Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15)
Indigenous People's Day

November
Native American Heritage Month
Dia De Los Muertos
Diwali

December
Hannukkah

January
Disabilities Awareness Month
MLK Celebration

The “Celebrate” Library Cart

The "Celebrate" Library cart is a mobile cart that has books for 1st-4th graders and will have rotating collections, connecting with different heritage months and other themes. Teachers are able to roll the cart into the classrooms and share the curated offering with the students. Cedarwood uses its own books, but also draws from Multnomah County Library to bring a larger volume of books to students in our grades program.