Building Awareness, Belonging, and International Understanding at the Lycée

 

At the Lycée, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) begins with a foundational belief: our differences make us stronger, and every student belongs. As an international school in the Bay Area, the Lycée brings together families representing more than 50 nationalities and over 30 languages. This diversity is not simply a statistic: it shapes everyday life on campus. Students learn in multiple languages, exchange global perspectives, and grow alongside peers whose backgrounds and experiences may differ from their own. DEIB work ensures that this richness is actively celebrated, that every voice is valued, and that students are supported in becoming thoughtful, compassionate global citizens.

Families as Partners

Across campuses, DEIB coordinators emphasize the essential role families play in bringing these values to life.
“When we invite parents to share their cultures, it really brings learning to life,” explains Hilda PEREIRA, DEIB Coordinator at the Sausalito (SAU) Campus. “The kids are more engaged when parents come in and share their stories.” Family involvement sends a powerful message: DEIB is not abstract: it is lived. “When families are included,” Hilda adds, “students learn what it truly means to be inclusive, welcoming, and proud of where everyone comes from.”

A family sharing their traditions for Diwali, the five-day Hindu "Festival of Lights", with their class.

 

Celebrating All Differences

For Mélissa ROBÉ, DEIB Coordinator at the Ortega Campus (ORT), one of the first challenges is helping the community understand what DEIB truly encompasses.
“It’s not just about ethnicity,” she explains. “It’s about all differences.”
Gender identity, neurodiversity, family structures, perspectives, and lived experiences all fall under the DEIB umbrella. While the Lycée follows a calendar of awareness months, these moments are never symbolic.
“The goal is to honor all families, all people,” Mélissa says. “DEIB is not understood the same way by everyone, which is why education and dialogue are so important.”

Awareness and Critical Thinking at the Core

At its heart, DEIB at the Lycée is about awareness and critical thinking.
“The objective is to help students develop a critical mindset and a consciousness of the world around them,” Mélissa ROBÉ explains. “They will always encounter people with different opinions and lived experiences.”
This is where the concept of vivre-ensemble or living together, comes to life. DEIB is not about imposing ideas, but about equipping students with the tools to engage with difference thoughtfully, respectfully, and with curiosity.

Students of the Coalition of Black students and allies organize games for their younger peers, to share some information and historical facts.

Challenging Representations and Broadening Perspectives

A central component of DEIB work is challenging stereotypes and expanding representations within the curriculum.
“There is a lot of work around representations,” Mélissa ROBÉ notes. “We want students to see that there are many more definitions than the ones they usually encounter.”
Through workshops, classroom discussions, and carefully selected teaching materials, students engage with diverse voices and narratives that reflect the complexity of the world directly around them. This curriculum-based approach is echoed across campuses. At Ashbury (ASH), DEIB Coordinator Alden PELLETIER emphasizes the importance of embedding DEIB directly into teaching practices:
“My role is to support teachers with resources and events that make different cultures more visible, and to ensure DEIB is fully embedded in the curriculum.”

The Power of Student-Led Initiatives

Student engagement is strongest when students themselves take the lead.
“Students are especially receptive to workshops that are student-led,” Mélissa ROBÉ explains. One powerful example was a neurodiversity workshop facilitated by students who identified as neurodivergent.
“They were in the best position to talk about it,” she says. “It helped other students realize they weren’t alone.”
Peer-led initiatives foster empathy, trust, and authenticity: values that sit at the very core of DEIB.

A high school student-led workshop raising awareness of neurodiversity among middle school students.Creating

 

Space for Expression

DEIB initiatives also prioritize creating safe, age-appropriate spaces for expression and reflection. Film screenings followed by guided discussions are one such tool.
“Cinema is incredibly powerful,” Mélissa ROBÉ explains. “We just make sure the content is always adapted to students’ age levels.”
Films shown during Pride Month and Neurodiversity Month help students see themselves, and others, represented, opening the door to meaningful conversations grounded in empathy and understanding.

International Understanding and Identity

International understanding is another cornerstone of DEIB at the Lycée.
“We want students to think about what it means to be international,” Mélissa ROBÉ says, “and about the realities and challenges that come with that.”
This awareness often begins early. On the Sausalito Campus, Hilda PEREIRA observes that students already recognize their global identities:
“Students understand they are part of an international community. Talking about travel, traditions, and celebrations helps them develop curiosity and a strong sense of self.”
Looking ahead, Hilda is helping lead an International Week initiative that will invite students to explore countries through art, culture, and classroom projects, culminating in shared celebrations with families.

Making Space for All Cultures

While French culture is central to the Lycée’s identity, DEIB efforts aim to ensure that all cultures are visible and valued.
“French identity is very present in the curriculum, and that’s important,” Mélissa ROBÉ says. “But we also want to highlight other cultures as well.”
Student-led initiatives, such as the Culture Club, help bring this vision to life through storytelling, language, and food.
“Food is such a powerful way to connect,” Mélissa ROBÉ notes. Alden PELLETIER echoes this sentiment:
“When families are invited to share food or cultural traditions, students connect deeply, especially when it comes from someone they know.”

Highlighting Voices and Achievements

This Month is Black History Month. It is one of the major moments in the DEIB calendar. This year’s programming includes student-led initiatives organized by the Ortega Club Coalition of Black Students and Allies, film screenings, curated reading selections, and a Middle and High School assembly celebrating African American authors, artists, and cultural figures.
“The idea is to show that history isn’t only about struggle,” Mélissa ROBÉ explains. “It’s also about achievement, creativity, and excellence.”

Vertical Alignment and Long-Term Impact

Looking ahead, DEIB coordinators emphasize the importance of continuity across grade levels.
“Vertical alignment is essential,” Alden PELLETIER explains. “DEIB learning should grow with students, remain developmentally appropriate, and help them feel seen at every stage.”

To ensure continuity across campuses and throughout the student journey, coordinators work closely with their campus principals and collaboratively with Sonia BAILEY, High School Principal, who oversees and coordinates their efforts.

Why It Matters

For Mélissa ROBÉ, DEIB is inseparable from the Lycée’s mission.
“I want all voices to be heard,” she says. “And there’s no more important place than school to make that happen.”
She also addresses common misconceptions:
“This isn’t proselytism. It’s about understanding the world we live in.”
In a city as diverse as San Francisco, DEIB reflects both the realities students experience and the values the Lycée upholds.
“This is about living together,” Melissa Robé concludes. “It’s about respect, and respect is one of the school’s core values.”