Around CampusBush News
Middle School Blazers of Color
For the past two years, the Bush Middle School Blazers of Color affinity group has provided an important space for students of color to gather, collaborate, and feel empowered in their own skin. The idea to form the group was hatched by Wengel W. ’28 during her Sixth Grade year. When Middle School Dean of Students Jessica Osorio joined Bush in 2022, the group began formally meeting, with Jessica and World Language Department Chair Cris Hernández Garcia serving as co-advisors.
“Advising this group has been so inspiring,” Jessica said. “I feel so moved and proud of these students every day. I feel honored that they came to talk to me and proud of them for saying, ‘This affinity group is something we need, that doesn’t exist here, and so we’re going to make it for ourselves.’ ”
The group serves many different purposes for its members. The affinity group provides
a safe space for students of color to express their ideas and emotions. They discuss microaggressions and racial incidents that may have happened to them, and they support each other through thinking about how to respond and take care of themselves. Another major goal for this group is connection and community building; they bond by having lunch together weekly and through group outings, such as going to the theater to watch the movie Wakanda Forever, or going to play laser tag.
The group also hopes to spark conversations about race in the wider Bush community..
“We want to make a difference. We want to make a change in the middle school,” Bouba C. ’28 said.
In the future, the student leaders hope to present on issues of race to all Middle School students during Blazer Block, the Middle School community time. They also hope to collaborate with Lower School affinity groups to support younger students in their racial identity development and help prepare them for their Middle School experience. Though large already, the group also hopes to continue expanding as more and more students of color enter the Middle School.
The five Eighth Grade student leaders are hopeful that what they started will continue on with the younger students in the group.
“I feel proud that younger students are discussing issues of race because of the group,” Melat A. ‘28 said.
“As Bush becomes more diverse, I hope the students really embrace who they are,” Ja’Ray M. ‘28 said.
“They have really built a coalition of like-minded students ready to make change” Jessica said. “The group is first and foremost a place for empowerment, connection, and belonging. They learn so much about themselves, about one another, and they find a lot of joy in their connections with one another.”
-by Colin Murray, Communications Manager
The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 735 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities
3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978
The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admissions, or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status