SCHOOL CULTURE

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SCHOOL CULTURE

• Who We Are Makes a Difference

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Reasons for the lesson

• In my job, I frequently talk to students who are
  frustrated with the culture at SVMS
• Most of our issues are not unique to us. They
  are developmental and common to the middle school
  experience.
• Academic success and mental/emotional well-being
  are directly impacted by school culture.

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Objectives

• Create a safe environment for us to talk about
  the culture at SVMS
• Speak in general terms, NO NAMES or situations
  that easily identify individuals
• Allow others to express thoughts without judgment
• Take turns speaking and allow others to complete
  their thoughts
• Dont monopolize the discussion
• Dont use words that escalate tension
• Use body language to show that you are listening

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Objectives

• Identify potential consequences of a negative
  school culture
• Identify potential benefits of a positive school
  culture
• Identify immediate changes YOU can make to
  improve our culture

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What would aDream School look like?
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What about a place where

• no one ever got picked on
• there were no put downs
• students dont fight
• there is no drama

• students build each other up
• students look for ways to help others who are
  struggling
• students successfully resolve conflict
• students celebrate each others success

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Food for Thought

• The concept of culture refers to a groups
  shared beliefs, customs, and behavior.
• A schools culture includes the social
  interactions that occur.
• Those interactions help give a school its look
  and feel as friendly, elite, competitive,
  inclusive, OR unfriendly, undisciplined,
  combative, exclusive, and so on.

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Survey says!

• Who do you think has the greatest impact on
  setting the culture of the school?
• Where do people first begin to experience the
  culture of a school?

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Partner Up!What are some consequences of
anegative school culture?
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Partner Up!What are some consequences of
apositive school culture?
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More Food for Thought

• Mahatma Ghandi once said
• Be the kind of change you want to see in the
  world.
• What do you think he meant?

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What would a positive school culture look and
sound like?
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Your Assignment

• On a piece of paper, please describe the current
  school culture of SVMS as you see it.
• Identify and explain three consequences (positive
  or negative) our current culture has on others of
  which you personally are aware.
• Discuss at least two actions you personally can
  take to be the kind of change we need at SVMS.
• Implement at least one of those actions today!