As we leave for our spring break, I am encouraging everyone to seize this opportunity to rest and reflect on unity through love which is one of the cornerstones of our core values. The Capital School District will continue to strive to advance opportunities to embrace diversity, advance inclusion, and increase belongingness as we celebrate the rich diversity of our students and staff.
An incident occurred at Central Middle School in which a female Muslim student was unable to freely exercise religious choice which does not reflect the core values of the Capital School District. We condemn, disavow, and apologize for any behavior that is not aligned to our vision to spur the audacity of hope as we support our staff and educate our students.
We recognize that the incident does not edify the three cornerstones of our core values: excellence through equity, unity through love, and leadership through inclusiveness. Any behavior that suppresses freedom of choice in religious practices is unacceptable. To this, the Capital School District is working with the family of the student, our staff, the local community, and CAIR of Philadelphia to accelerate our ongoing efforts to harvest a culturally sensitive environment that encourages behaviors that embrace diversity and supports practices that safeguard inclusion.
The family and district want to acknowledge that what teachers and the staff of Capital School District do every day to educate students and meet their holistic needs, especially during this difficult time on the heels of COVID, is not to be overlooked or taken for granted. It is to be celebrated and appreciated. We embrace the opportunity to work collaboratively to advance healing and restoration while recognizing that our students’, staffs’, and community’s strengths are in our collective efforts to uphold the spirit of unity through love.
In closing, the district will be working with our staff, the family, the community, and CAIR of Philadelphia to develop appropriate activities that focus on strengthening ways to celebrate diversity while demonstrating inclusion. As we continue on our journey, we know with certainty that love, care, and forgiveness are the foundation of what makes Senator Nation the heartbeat of the first state.
In Spirit of Unity through Love,
Dr. Vilicia Cade
CEO & Superintendent
Capital School District