Our school is built on a mission and philosophy that guides us to shape young people who will make the world a better place.
We have always aimed to provide a curriculum with a strong thread of social justice. Our hope has been that through their experiences at GUS, students learn to think critically, develop the skills to advocate for themselves and their fellow community members, to see and experience life beyond the boundaries of our campus and our city, and develop a commitment to contribute to the greater good of society. Now, more than ever, our faculty, staff, and board share a desire to do more and to do better.
Our commitment: Mean well. Speak well. Do well. Do Better.
Guided by our philosophy that children thrive in a nurturing environment where their ideas, feelings, and thoughts are valued, we work to sustain a school where each member of our community feels they can share their whole self with their classmates, teachers, and family members and be safe, known, and included. In doing so, we strive to protect the dignity and worth of every member of our community, and see our school fully realize its mission, purpose, and place.
We recognize that this is the time for us to be bold in our commitment and pursuit of racial justice and equity. We acknowledge the impact of systemic racism and the role schools have played to perpetuate these inequities; and as an educational institution committed to growing a new generation of citizens and community members, we recognize the moral imperative to offer a program based in antiracism, inclusivity, and equity.
Embedded in our mission is an understanding that the more diverse our community is, the stronger and more insightful, creative, reflective, and joyful it will be. To that end, we are committed to fostering an open and welcoming community, and we actively seek students, faculty, and staff members who represent the diversity of race, ethnicities, faiths, gender and gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, family structures, and socio-economic backgrounds that exist in the North Shore and beyond.
- Endorsed by the Board of Trustees 2021
Land acknowledgement
Glen Urquhart School is located on N’dakinna, which is the traditional ancestral homeland of the Abenaki, Pennacook and Wabanaki Peoples past and present. We acknowledge and honor with gratitude the land, the waterways, and the alnobak (people) who have stewarded N’dakinna throughout the generations.
- Adapted from Indigenous New Hampshire Collaborative Collective (INHCC).