We choose to act

At Miss Hall’s School, we champion social justice; insist that all community members demonstrate respect for each other through words and actions; and affirm that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to learning and problem solving, discovery and personal growth, and cultivating empathy and cultural competency.

Guided by these beliefs, and with the understanding that being an inclusive community requires ongoing work and commitment, we foster cross-cultural dialogue and allyship to honor and celebrate our diverse community.

At Miss Hall’s, you will live with, learn from, and befriend peers from all over the world — and you will work alongside them to contribute boldly and creatively to the common good.

In terms of race and ethnicity, our students self-identify as:
White: 36%
Asian: 30%
Bi/Multiracial: 17%
Black: 11%
Hispanic/Latino/a/x: 6%

Our students are passionate activists, whether it’s by speaking at United Nations (as Diana ’21 did this past winter) or petitioning people in power. This spring, several students organized a local protest in support of Black Lives Matter, and last fall, H.E.A.T. (the Hall’s Environmental Action Team) participated in the Global Climate Strike in downtown Pittsfield. These continue a long history of student-organized protests about climate change, women’s rights, and gun violence.

Under the umbrella of our school-wide Diversity Coalition (DivCo), three student organizations have been identified as essential to our efforts at fostering inclusion and courageous conversation. Most clubs have to be re-established each year based on student requests; these coalitions are permanent fixtures in our community, led in partnership by students and staff.

• Essence is a coalition devoted to the creation of harmony among all students, regardless of race and ethnicity. All members of the Miss Hall’s community are encouraged to participate in Essence meetings, activities, and events.

• The International Student Alliance (ISA) is a coalition made up of students from the United States and other countries represented in our student body. Throughout the year, ISA sponsors cultural programs, international meals, and special events.

• Spectrum is a coalition devoted to supporting students on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and to the creation of harmony and inclusion among all students. All members of our community are encouraged to participate in Spectrum meetings, activities, and events.

As we engage in ongoing work around diversity, equity, and inclusion, we define our terms as:

• Diversity is the range of differences among groups of people and individuals that is necessary to achieve excellence in all areas of school life and beyond. These differences include but are not limited to, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability, and religion.

• Equity is fair and just access to opportunities and resources, in recognition of the advantages and disadvantages that have historically existed and still exist.

• Inclusion is the intentional, active, and continuous celebration of and engagement with diversity to ensure that every community member feels valued and experiences a deep sense of belonging.

• Social Justice is the active process of identifying and dismantling systems of oppression and privilege in order to achieve equity.

• Cultural Competency is the ongoing process of knowing one’s own cultural identities and biases and recognizing how these affect interactions, in order to communicate and connect effectively across cultures.