Student Clubs Take Action on Social Issues

The members of two Upper School clubs are passionate about important social issues that affect the entire Shore community as well as individuals and families beyond the school’s walls. The STAR (Students Together Against Racism) Club is dedicated to learning about, discussing, and taking action toward antiracism and anti-bias both within the school community and in the broader world. SASS (Students Against Sexism at Shore) aims to provide a space for students to come together to talk about gender equity at Shore and in the larger society. Both groups can be considered outgrowths of the culture of equity and inclusion that is increasingly taking hold at the school, sparked by the Board of Trustees’ approval in 2020 of Shore’s Equity & Inclusion Commitment.

According to eighth grader and STAR member Liddy Warren, “I think our school is becoming more inclusive, but we still have a long way to go. That’s why the club is important—it’s about making progress with how people are expressing themselves, how we’re talking to people, and how we treat people with our actions.”

Seventh grade STAR member Ruby Poulo says, “I also think that different gender identities and people who don’t fit in a certain box should feel safe and comfortable at school.” Fellow seventh grade STAR member Anna Pervier agrees, “We want to make people more aware of other people’s identities and how they want to be treated.”

The STAR Club was founded in fall 2021, when Upper School English teachers and employee SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) co-coordinators Amanda Berg and Louis Frank invited students to join a group focused on antiracism and anti-bias work. “Our goal was to make the club as student-centered as possible, so at our first meeting we asked members where in school they felt they could make an impact in the areas of equity and inclusion.” The students chose to focus on Shore’s dress code, a set of standards that has been in place, nearly unchanged, for many years. 

“We want to change our dress code so that people can express themselves better,” explains Liddy Warren. “People are also feeling that the dress code might discriminate against certain body types. It’s not as inclusive as we’d like it to be.”

Anna Pervier says, “The dress code is a really important issue to me because a lot of kids don’t feel comfortable with what it currently allows, and we want to make sure everyone is able to do their best at school.”

STAR Club members surveyed the student body about the dress code, and the results encouraged them to share their views with Head of School Clair Ward and Head of Upper School Gustavo Carrera, as well as to organize a one-day protest in the Upper School when many students came to school out of dress code. Their intent was to relay the message that the dress code inhibits students’ ability for “authentic expression”—one of the stated goals of the Equity & Inclusion Commitment.

The students found widespread support for their actions not only among their peers, but also among faculty and administrators. According to Gustavo Carrera, “As an educator, there is no prouder moment than when our students take ownership of the school’s mission and commitments and embrace a leadership role. That a cross-section of students has more directly asked these questions of alignment between goals and practices at Shore should be celebrated. We should celebrate our school, as well. Every adult in the Shore community, including families, has helped create a culture in which our students feel that their voices are valued and their ideas honored; we should also be proud because we have created a safe space for them to step forward and, without fear, voice their ideas in a respectful manner.”

Clair Ward, too, expresses support for the students’ aims. “I frankly agreed with their argument opposing the current dress code,” says Ward, “and I agreed to meet with students to talk about next steps. Since the commitment statement is a Board-approved position, I thought the time was right for us to help the students prepare to present their position to the Board.”

With the assistance of Carrera and Ward, as well as the support of SASS, STAR Club members crafted a letter to the Board of Trustees that cites the Equity & Inclusion Commitment and details their position: “The dress code does not offer personal freedom of self-expression; rather, it limits it. Students are limited to certain articles of clothing that do not make them feel comfortable, safe, or validated in their identity. Research shows that children learn best when they feel safe, valued, and comfortable, which the dress code does not allow for an overwhelming majority of us.”

STAR Club members formally presented their position to the Board at a February meeting, where Shore trustees were receptive to the students’ views. Trustee and parent Weze Harrigan told the group, “You were brave and bold, and I think you brought up some compelling points.” Board President Amy Marks said, “I am deeply impressed by the work you have done.”

While STAR members have been focused on the dress code, students in SASS have spent much of the year learning about and discussing issues such as how team sports and locker rooms could accommodate LGBTQIA+ students, how the school could offer more support for students’ mental health, and how Shore could celebrate Pride Month in June.

“SASS is a group of really excited community members who all share an interest in powerful movements for change,” says seventh grader Kaelyn Bagenstose.

SASS meets weekly during lunch period, and brings together students from across the Upper School to talk, collaborate, and create. “This group has had some great energy, and it has grown tenfold since the first lunch meeting launch,” says Amanda Berg, one of the faculty facilitators for SASS. “As a whole group, we talked about what it means to be an ally and how to create a safe space. Now, we’re working in smaller groups on specific action items, including researching inclusive sports teams, getting ready for the Day of Silence on April 8, putting together a ‘vision board’ for SASS with a ‘We believe’ statement and resources, and brainstorming Pride Month celebrations.”

According to School Counselor Katie Hertz, another of the group’s facilitators, “It has been an energizing experience to be part of SASS. The students are really taking the lead on doing this work together! From laying ground rules to recruiting friends to join, generating the topics, and now leading the way on small-group projects, this is a dedicated group of motivated students.”

Seventh grader Isabel Marks says, “It’s really nice that we have the support of a lot of teachers. It’s actually really helpful that we can all come together to work on a shared goal of building a better and more inclusive community at Shore.”

“Gathering together lets us all share our experiences and connect about things that we are passionate about,” explains eighth grader Charlie Seliger. “After sharing our experiences and opinions and beliefs we can put it all together to do some really cool stuff.”

Says sixth grader Bea Sollins, “I appreciate the way SASS lifts up the voices of students who want to make change and share their opinions.”

Seventh grader Olivia Gates, a member of both STAR and SASS, has this to say: “It’s amazing to be part of two groups that are working toward such a great goal: to make a more inclusive community where everyone is respected for their identities no matter what those identities include.”
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Shore Country Day School

545 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 927-1700
Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
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