Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging (DEIJB)

Cedarwood Waldorf School’s DEIJ Board Committee is dedicated to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community that upholds the dignity of every individual, ensuring that all students, families, and faculty feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. Cedarwood Waldorf School envisions a vibrant, inclusive community where all individuals feel a deep sense of belonging and are inspired to contribute to a diverse, just and compassionate world.

The DEIJB Board Committee envisions a school where diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging policies guide faculty, administration, students, and families, fostering an environment of respect, understanding, and collaboration that empowers everyone to thrive and nurtures a strong sense of community.

Cedarwood Waldorf acknowledges that Rudolf Steiner’s language reflected that of his time, and some of his language reflected the historical and cultural context in which he spoke. Steiner’s belief in anthroposophy aims to develop the whole being. Steiner’s belief in the development of the whole human involved an understanding that each human has a spiritual, intellectual, and physical dimension guided by free will, and ultimately moving towards greater freedom and spiritual awakening.

Core Values

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Our Values Made Visible Through Action

Our DEIJB Board Committee has finalized a new Charter. Our goal is to lead and support the school’s efforts in creating an inclusive, equitable, and diverse community. The DEIJB Committee meets monthly to deepen and advocate for this work. Looking ahead, the committee plans to launch a subcommittee book club open to all community members, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations around DEIJ. The faculty and DEIJB committee remain committed to ongoing education and engagement throughout the year.

DEIJB Festivals and Celebrations

Throughout the year Cedarwood faculty and staff incorporate diverse perspectives, stories, experiences, and traditions into the curriculum. This is seen in the stories they tell, the events they celebrate, the projects they create, and the work they put back into the community. Below is a list of some of the major holidays, celebrations, and recognitions that are incorporated into the school community each year:

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

AWSNA

Cedarwood Waldorf is dedicated to the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, which maintains education for the spiritual, anthroposophical, and conscious growth of faculty, staff, and board members. Cedarwood faculty have participated in various professional development opportunities. A primary focus was on Culturally Responsive Teaching through training with Alma Partners. Additional training included a session on Neurodiversity with Nina Gallaway, as well as participation in the Ohana Program. Currently, the faculty is engaged in a study of Restorative Justice in Education by Katherine Evans and Dorothy Vaandering. Over the years readings have been studied that include, Bright Ribbons by lotus Linton Howard, Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain by Zaretta Hammond, We Can’t Teach What We Don’t Know by Gary R. Howard, and Learning and Teaching While White by Jenna Chandler-Ward and Elizabeth Denevi.

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.

Land Acknowledgement

At Cedarwood Waldorf, we stand on the ancestral land of the Multnomah, Wasco, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Cowlitz, Tualatin, Molalla, Kalapuya, and Bands of Chinook peoples. We honor this as unceded and ancestral land.