A Sense of Belonging
DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY
Middle school girls need to belong. At Orchard House, we meet people where they are and create space for learning, reflection, and even mistakes in our pursuit of a more just and inclusive school.
We acknowledge that:
Power and privilege are real and impact us every day
Equity work is ever-changing and never complete
Accountability, both inside and outside the classroom, is as much about character as it is about schoolwork.
The wealth of our differences is the heart of OHMS, and we aspire to mirror the rich diversity found in the greater Richmond community.
Affinity Groups at OHMS
Student affinity groups meet twice a month to provide space where students can connect around shared identities and experiences. These gatherings foster belonging, enhance engagement, and support the well-being of our diverse community
Gems
Gems provides a safe space for Black girls to build resilience, empower each other, and share experiences around being a Black girl in predominantly white spaces. In weekly meetings, the girls will learn how to find their voice and develop self-confidence while engaging in discussions and activities around a variety of topics.
Facilitators: Stacie Brown & Melody Scott
Kaleidoscope (SoCG)
Kaleidoscope provides a supportive space for girls to discuss diverse experiences and unique perspectives including, but not limited to, belonging in predominantly white spaces. The group will discuss topics that build capacity for self-love, self-advocacy, agency, and a sense of belonging. Students of color are any student that identifies as Black/ African/ African-American, Asian/ Asian-American, Middle-Eastern/ Middle-EasternAmerican, Native-American/ Native/ American Indian, Latinx/ Hispanic, and/or Bi-racial/Multi-racial descent.
Facilitators: Stacie Brown & Melody Scott
Spectrum
Spectrum is a weekly lunchtime discussion group for 7th and 8th Graders who are allies to the LGBTQ+ community, students with LGBTQ+ family members, and LGBTQ+ students. Faculty facilitators lead the group with topics that highlight the nuts and bolts of constructing and finding inclusive communities, the importance of upstanders and ally networks, self-expression, LGBTQ+ culture and history, and how to take part in discussions that strive to hear all voices. Student submissions for topic requests are also important parts of the ever-evolving curriculum.
Facilitators: Rebecca Reyes & Penn Ward
Focus on Student Wellbeing
We cannot eliminate the challenges of adolescence, but at Orchard House, we value a holistic approach that supports each girls’ wellbeing - socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically. We understand the rapid developmental changes and external pressures that girls are facing and have designed our program to help girls build confidence and a strong sense of self.
Preserving girls’ mental and emotional health
OHMS faculty and staff form a support network of trusted adults committed to guiding students on a path of self-advocacy, curiosity, and a willingness to take risks. Staff participate in regular professional development and frequently collaborate to discuss the success of students on both a class and individual level. We value the ample opportunities to get to know each student academically and personally throughout her four years here. Our CORE program is a curriculum that focuses on connection, openness, resilience, and engagement. Each grade’s homeroom teachers focus on a set of developmentally-aligned skills coupled with hands-on practice.
Mental health and self-care lessons are woven throughout health class, and a school counselor provides counseling opportunities for girls. To keep students primed to learn, the school day includes recess and breaks every day, as well as predictable, scheduled unstructured time for girls to take their learning into their own hands and pursue what they need from teachers and classmates. All classes balance creative assignments, group projects, and a variety of ways to demonstrate learning.
Supporting girls’ physical health
Students participate in physical education twice each week, with daily recess. Sports teams for all grades are offered every season, and students are actively encouraged to participate, with no tryouts necessary. The health curriculum includes units on nutrition, exercise, sex education, and general physical wellbeing. In addition, teachers use every opportunity to guide students on an exploration of Richmond and all it has to offer through field trips on foot.
Navigating healthy relationships and social wellbeing
Central to the Orchard House culture is daily active participation in community building, through whole-school social-emotional programming, cross-grade opportunities with Base Classes and Base Groups, and grade-based homeroom programming. All-school Morning Meetings allow time for expression of gratitude, and small-group meetings provide practice for conflict resolution and self-advocacy. Students are also able to participate in affinity groups that cultivate and enhance student belonging.
Establishing a sense of meaning and purpose
Learning is more impactful and lasting when it is tied to a sense of purpose, so leadership opportunities are integral to our programming. Each grade has a specific leadership project they can expect —the 5th grade partnership with local organization The Virginia Home, the 6th grade yearlong environmental conservation program, 7th grade roles welcoming new and prospective families, 8th grade-led Base Group projects, and other avenues for service in and beyond the school walls. With sports teams, student-led clubs, a different arts discipline to explore each quarter, and treasured school traditions, our girls are able to see themselves as part of something bigger than academics and bigger than themselves.