Activities and Programs

Faculty and parents at The Summit provide experiences every year to encourage students to become sensitive to the need to embrace diversity, value every person and appreciate the global environment in which they live. Lessons about Diversity and Inclusion are incorporated into the curriculum, classroom activities and special projects. In addition, The Summit community participates in a several ongoing and annual events which underscore our mission to challenge every student, faculty and staff member to share the gifts God has given them and become people of character who value and improve the world they inherit.

Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee includes representatives in each school who help provide resources and promote events, activities, displays and speakers. Student members of the D & I Team participate in assemblies, and often lead them, to explore topics, interact with each other and provide the groundwork for in-depth discussion in Advisement groups. Assemblies usually culminate in speeches, skits and art work.

International Event

The Summit is blessed with many International Families who broaden the diversity of our community and make all our students more aware that we live in a global society. In addition to speaking in our classrooms about their native countries, Summit’s multinational parents work with faculty to organize and celebrate the annual International Week, formerly called the Multicultural Festival. Usually, two countries are the focus of attention for the week. In the classroom, faculty present lessons on the history and culture of these countries. Parents invite experts representing the countries to participate in talks, demonstrations and entertainment. The week includes a display of world flags, international food festival and student exhibit on world religions. Flannery Gym and Kyle Theater are transformed into exhibition and performance spaces for artifacts, educational exhibits, a fashion show of cultural costumes and performances. The week culminates in an International Mass which celebrates diversity. Over the course of time, the annual International Week experiences have exposed Summit students to more intensive studies of many countries, including China, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Iran, Ireland, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Turkey, Nigeria and Puerto Rico.

Black History Month

Summit faculty incorporate African-American history into the curriculum throughout the year, but also make an effort during Black History Month to encourage students augment their studies by reading note-worthy books. All divisions of the school celebrate the month through displays, art projects, outings and speakers as well as classroom discussions and projects.

Shantytown

Upper School students participate in a city-wide event called Shantytown every October as part of Homeless Awareness Week. Each year the students reflect on the issues of homelessness and select a specific concern that becomes the educational focus of that year’s experience. Students spend a night on campus in cardboard boxes, participate in a community service event and hear speakers who come to campus to talk about the homeless.