Belonging, Equity, and Excellence

As part of our Catholic, Ignatian commitment to social justice, SI fosters a community of understanding, respect, and inclusion for students of all backgrounds. We promote respect for all forms of diversity and strive to promote solidarity among all members of the school community through our work in the Office for Belonging, Equity, and Excellence; the Magis High School Program; and by supporting student affinity groups.

SI's diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts are led by Assistant Principal for Community Formation and Culture Dr. Tasia Davis (tdavis@siprep.org), Director of Community Engagement and Belonging Maricel Hernandez (mhernandez@siprep.org), and Director of Culture and Belonging Eric Mingo (emingo@siprep.org).

Mission Statement

The Office of Belonging, Equity, and Excellence guides and supports the holistic development of St. Ignatius as an institution. Our goal is to support and facilitate a perpetual learning community by utilizing best practices that fosters reflection, identity formation, community, and intellectual rigor. These practices will be centered upon our Catholic, Ignatian values and an educational approach that utilizes reflection as a tool of analysis in an effort to design competencies in support of student-centered outcomes, our Grad at Grad.

Office of Belonging, Equity, and Excellence

The Office of Belonging, Equity, and Excellence is a hub that serves all members of the St. Ignatius community, including faculty and staff, students, parents, and guardians. The BEE partners with all offices and departments at SI, helping to guide the community on issues of equity and inclusion, building capacity for cultural competency, and striving to build a culture where all feel accepted, safe, empowered, supported, and affirmed. The goal of the BEE is to ensure that the children and adults in our school community thrive, not in spite of, but because of who they are.

Magis High School Program

The Magis High School Program is an academic, social, and cultural support program for students historically underrepresented at St. Ignatius and institutions of higher education. In addition to the academic and counseling resources that SI already offers all students, the Magis HS Program provides supplemental programs including mentorship, preparation for college entrance, and cultural enrichment. The Magis Program exists to support St. Ignatius students who identify with at least one of the following criteria:

Students who are first-generation college-bound (neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university)
Students from low-income families
Students of color historically underrepresented in higher education

Learn more about the Magis High School Program at SI.

Student Affinity Groups

Affinity groups promote awareness and respect for diversity and inclusion at SI. They support the intersectional identity formation of their members and provide a safe space for students who self-identify within each affinity group. Although members of an affinity group may share a common identity, such as gender or race, it does not mean that everyone in that group shares the same experience. Rather, participants recognize that their identity has an effect on the way they move through the world, and the groups offer time and space for empowerment of the individual and of the group within the greater community.

• Arab and Middle Eastern Affinity
• Asian Students’ Coalition
• Association of Latin American Students
• Black Student Union
• Pacific Islander Association
• Jewish Affinity Group
• LGBTQ+ Affinity