Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Action

Harvard-Westlake hosted the Southern California Diversity Practitioners Luncheon, a gathering designed to bring together Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leaders from independent schools across the city. This recurring lunch serves as a space to refuel, exchange ideas, and remember the collective strength and resilience of those doing equity work in schools.

South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) spent a hands-on lunchtime session exploring the art of Henna, which is an intricate and meaningful temporary tattoo tradition popular in South Asian weddings, festivals, and celebrations. Attendees learned about the cultural significance of Henna and had the opportunity to create their own designs. The event blended creativity and cultural appreciation, offering artists and newcomers a fun and interactive way to connect with South Asian traditions.

On October 7, our Upper School Jewish Club led a memorial ceremony marking the two-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Israel. Gathering together in the Upper School sukkah, students and faculty reflected, prayed, and shared words of remembrance for the lives lost and those still affected. At the middle school campus, students continued their work on the memorial garden, adding painted remembrance rocks to honor victims and symbolize resilience and peace. The ceremony at the middle school centered this year on the 48 hostages who remain in captivity, affirming our community’s hope for their safe return and our commitment to empathy and awareness. Together, the Upper and Middle School observances created a shared space for mourning, reflection, and solidarity, reminding us of the power of memory and community in the face of tragedy.

Faculty gathered during lunch to kick off the decorating of the Middle School sukkah in preparation for Sukkot, the Jewish festival that began at sundown. Sukkot commemorates the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness and is marked by the building of temporary shelters called sukkahs, symbolizing resilience, impermanence, and gratitude.

Photos of the process reflect the joy and collaboration shared during the effort. Sukkahs were set up on both campuses, offering the Harvard-Westlake community a meaningful way to honor and reflect on this important tradition.

Designed as an educational, judgment-free space, Harvard-Westlake’s annual LGBTQIA+ Safe Space Training helped faculty and staff explore how to create inclusive, empowering environments for LGBTQIA+ students. The session also encouraged straight and/or cisgender participants to grow as allies, contributing to a more queer-friendly school culture across all levels of campus life.

Harvard-Westlake’s Prefect Council hosted its annual Activities Fair during Community Time on Ted Slavin Field, showcasing the energy and creativity of student clubs and interest groups. With booths lining the field, students shared their passions and invited peers to join them in everything from academic clubs to cultural groups and creative collectives.

The Jewish Club kicked off the school year by introducing Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, during a community gathering led by the 2025–2026 student leaders. They shared the meaning behind the holiday, which begins in the Hebrew month of Tishrei and marks a time of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and hope for the year ahead.

Unlike January 1st celebrations, Rosh Hashanah is centered on introspection taking stock of the past year, seeking forgiveness, and setting intentions for growth. The students highlighted meaningful traditions like the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn), which serves as a powerful wake-up call to return to purpose, and symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey and round challah, representing sweetness and the cycle of life.

The celebration concluded with a live shofar blowing, offering a moving and authentic connection to the holiday’s themes of renewal, gratitude, and community.

Harvard-Westlake’s Middle School South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) recently hosted a mango lassi smoothie tasting to celebrate the start of the school year. Students learned some fun facts about lassi, ate some popular Indian snacks, and chatted about exciting events the affinity group has planned for the year. It was a delicious event!