AEIOU and you in Middle School

Middle School Spotlight: AEIOU

Listening to understand. Creating space for perspectives that differ from your own. Disagreeing respectfully. Reconsidering one’s own perspectives. Staying true to one’s values. Speaking from the ‘I perspective.’ Affirming all identities. Assuming positive intent. Creating spaces in which every human being feels an authentic sense of belonging. These are some of the most integral skills we can instill in our children so they are able to thrive at SCH and beyond.

We live in a diverse world—one filled with human beings who are similar to us and others who are quite different from us; one filled with people who agree with us and others whose beliefs challenge our own to the core; one filled not just with mirrors through which we feel the comfort of seeing our own identities and experiences reflected back at us, but also windows through which we will learn about experiences and beliefs vastly different from our own. This is an incredible thing. It also is not always a simple thing.

Even as adults, we can struggle at times to navigate the world’s complexities. It can be hard and complicated work. For this reason, SCH has committed through our mission and values to the following important ideals:

• Cultivating an inclusive community 
• Preparing students to lead lives characterized by thoughtfulness and integrity
• Empowering students to effect positive change 
• Celebrating diversity in all its forms

In Middle School, we strive to accomplish this through a program we are very proud of called AEIOU, which stands for Awareness, Empathy, Inclusion, Opportunity through Differences, and Understanding.

Designed by faculty and spearheaded by our Diversity Coordinator, Zana Bass, AEIOU lessons are woven throughout Middle School advisory and the academic curriculum. Students engage in real-world conversations that build empathy and understanding. Some relate to personal identifiers, such as socioeconomic status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, etc., and other topics include stereotypes, micro-aggressions, immigration, food insecurity, privilege, implicit bias, etc.

AEIOU conversations do not promote “right” or “wrong,” but rather, kindness and respect. Our goal is to help students become aware and respectful of myriad identities, to encourage them to celebrate their own identity, to be upstanders if they witness behavior that is not kind or respectful, and ultimately, to help ensure all individuals at SCH are treated with dignity. 

AEIOU lessons are a wonderful opportunity to continue the conversations at home. The topics are as follows:

• Our 5th graders will learn about gender, identity, expression, and terms related to LGBTQ+ identities. 
• Our 6th and 7th graders will learn about food insecurity as an important global issue, examine the causes of world hunger, and brainstorm solutions. 
• Our 8th graders will engage in an activity on perspective, during which they’ll uncover how many different opinions can emerge even when everyone is presented with identical facts. 

Thank you for your partnership in emphasizing the importance of kindness, respect, and empathy. We care about each and every child in the Middle School and are committed to ensuring that everyone feels celebrated and affirmed. 

Sincerely,

Meadow Pepino
Head of Middle School