Programming

An Affinity Group is a gathering of people who share an identity (i.e., race, gender, family status, religion, etc.). Affinity Groups provide time and space for participants to reflect, share experiences, share resources, and celebrate their identities. Although individuals in the group share an identifier, not everyone may share the same experiences.

Affinity Groups are available to our Upper and Middle School students and they may join any group with which they identify. These groups are designed to be safe spaces for students to learn more about their various identities and to discuss their questions, comments, and concerns with other students who share that same identity. Affinity groups meet twice a month in the Upper School and are led by students and faculty who share the identifier. In the Middle School, affinity groups meet each week. 

Our Affinity Groups are offered based on racial/ethnic identities (Black/African-American, Latinx/Hispanic-American, White/European American, East Asian-American, South Asian-American, Middle Eastern, and Multiracial), religious identities (Muslim, Christian, Jewish), gender identities (boys and girls), and LGBTQ+ student affinity group.

Middle School students may choose to participate in one of eight affinity groups: Asian, South Asian, Latinx, Black, White allyship, Gender and Sexual Orientation Alliance and Affinity Group, Muslim, and a Jewish student affinity group.

The advisory program provides workshops—designed by our faculty Multicultural Teams for Grades K–5 and 6–12—for students to hone their skills of cultural competency. 

Lower School cultural competency programming focuses on social-emotional learning, self-awareness, and social impact through the lens of developing our school community. 

Middle School advisory programming delves deeper into cultural identifiers, including ethnicity, race, and age (Grade 6); ability and religion (Form I); and gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status (Form II).

Upper School advisory programming centers around the intersectionality of identifiers as well as the impact of privilege, power, biases, and microaggressions.

Pingry’s Upper School Student Unions are open to anyone in the community to join their classmates to learn about the experiences and cultures of the sponsor organization. These groups invite students into conversations, hold informative (and fun) events, and sometimes cross-collaborate. Pingry has five student unions:

• Black Student Union
• Asian Student Union
• Latino Student Union
• Gender and Sexuality Alliance
• Slavic Student Union

A valued resource within the school community, The Student Diversity Leadership Committee is a selective leadership opportunity for Upper School students who create cultural competency programs and deliver training to other Pingry students during selected advisory periods. The SDLC also goes off campus to work with other schools who may not be equipped to teach cultural competency.

Among its initiatives, SDLC has collaborated with Pingry’s Honor Board and Peer Leadership group to highlight how skills of cultural competency impact leadership in those areas. SDLC also works through the advisory program, visiting advisory groups throughout the year to hold discussions about inclusivity and belonging. Members of SDLC have attended the People of Color Conference and other diversity trainings. 

Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network offers programs and training opportunities designed to empower LGBTQ+ and allied students to organize and advocate for a safer school community. GSA leaders attend the GSA Forum and other diversity workshops and conferences.

In August 2020, The Pingry School began to examine, evaluate, and improve DEIB efforts in athletics in several ways:

• Personnel specifically designated to work in athletics and DEIB
• Have a diverse, equitable, inclusive lens on the various pieces of the athletics experience: transportation, scheduling, uniforms, celebrations, optional team gear, etc.
• Trainings and Diversity Dialogues for coaches with a strong focus on the adjunct coaching community