Mission, Values & History

Our Mission

At SF Day, we ignite curiosity. We cultivate a diverse, nurturing community that encourages learners to expand their perspectives and become their true selves. Students develop as compassionate, creative problem-solvers, prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Every school has a mission – but how does it come to life? SF Day’s mission is grounded in three pillars, which always interconnect. The school’s enduring commitment to intentional, student-driven teaching and learning practices; the importance of social and emotional wellness in and out of the classroom; and the bedrock belief in respect for identity and the community around us. Every aspect of school life has connections to all three of these central ideas – and each is strengthened by the others.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

Vision:  We aspire to create a welcoming, diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where each person feels that their whole identity is known and respected.  

Purpose: We, the members of San Francisco Day School – faculty, staff, students, alumni, families, and trustees – believe we have a mutual responsibility to ourselves, each other, and society. We are committed to ensuring that our students emerge with the confidence and skills to interact in a respectful way with people who bring different lived experiences and perspectives in an ever-evolving world. 

Approach: We are purposeful in building a community that shares this vision. All community members should see their identity reflected in the school (mirrors), to know that people “like me” are full citizens at school. Equally important is that everyone is challenged to look outside themselves (windows) to understand, respect, and appreciate the cultures and identities of others. 

Commitment: We are teaching our children to be active participants in a democracy and preparing them to recognize systemic injustice and know how they can advocate for equity for themselves and others. 

Adopted by the SF Day Board of Trustees on December 1, 2019.

Honoring Diversity

How do we honor diversity? By constantly evolving.

At SF Day, we recognize that there is no true "finish line" when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion. However, an unwavering commitment to diversity has always been a founding value of the school. As such, we sought to codify our commitment with a formal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement in 2019.

All members of our community – administration, faculty, staff, parents/guardians, students, alumni, and trustees – collaborated on this statement, helping to shape and articulate this expression of our vision, purpose, approach, and commitment to Inclusion and Community Engagement at SF Day. We are incredibly grateful to our community for its active engagement and drive to pursue diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within and beyond the walls of San Francisco Day School.

And as we head into the school’s future, we are not just evolving our definition, but expanding it: to create more space for community engagement connected to our curriculum.