School Connectedness

 

Research shows that students who feel a genuine sense of belonging at school are more likely to do well in school, and make healthy choices beyond.  This sense of belonging is described as school connectedness.  Factors that can help strengthen school connectedness for students include adult support, belonging to a positive peer group, commitment to high academic standards, and a positive school environment. School staff members are important adults in students' lives.  The time, attention, interest, and emotional support they provide help children feel connected at school while simultaneously encouraging student achievement. 

Houlton has many things in place that support student connectedness. Our staff works tirelessly to build relationships, with both our in-person and IDL learners.  Our continued high academic expectations set the bar for our students and families, with things in place to support all students and their needs.  And PBIS sets up the schoolwide expectations to provide a safe school environment.  

Last week's 5th grade camp experience further developed staff-student and student-student relationships through team building activities, and just spending time together in a different environment.  Although this year provides some challenges, we will continue to try to find ways to bring staff, students, and families together through things such as all-school BINGO, spirit days, and intentionally building connections.  Thank you to the staff and committees that have brought their ideas forward.

At this week's staff meeting, we will look at our students, and determine which ones are strongly connected to adults, and which ones might need to be more connected.  As in the past, we have found that this has had a positive impact on students and their connectedness to Houlton.  And I think staff have found it fulfilling as well.

As always, please let me know if there other ways we can build opportunities for staff and students to work together to build a positive school environment, to ensure we have strong school connectedness. This has always been important, but more than ever this year.

Have a great week -

Sue 

We are all different

 

Kim Osterhues shared the video below as a way to recognize and celebrate who we are.  While the video is about autism, it made me think about how we are all different in many ways.  Staff and students are all different in our responses to things, reactions to people, how we do things - yet we all work together and make it work.  The video also made me think about the board meeting conversations about equity, and helping staff and students recognize and embrace the wide range of people we encounter in our day.  

The video may make you think of something entirely different - but nonetheless, I think it's worth the 5 minutes to think, celebrate, and embrace the ways we are all different.  And that's what makes us awesome!

Ted Talk: We are all different - 10 year old Cole Blakeway- YouTube Link  (https://youtu.be/sQuM5e0QGLg)

Fall Conferences

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences

As we prepare for this week’s upcoming conferences, there are some challenges unique to this year.  The most obvious is that we will not be in person, so there will be an underlying concern that technology works!  It will also be difficult to judge reactions, opinions, etc.  Parents will be feeling the same way, so take a minute to share personal observations of their child so they can rest assured that you know their child..

Secondly, we know there has been regression for many students since they left in March.  We also know that our families had to navigate a difficult situation with their kids from home.  While it’s important to honestly share where students are, recognize that our parents were the “teachers” and did their best to instruct within their varied situations.  Approach the upcoming year as a collaborative team effort, and reassure families that their child/ren are going to be OK!

In addition:

• Assume positive intentions and that parents have done/are doing the best that they can
• Show how much you care for the student by sharing something that tells the parent you know their child.
• Begin with positive information/strengths
• Learn about the student from the parent/family perspective
• Most parents want to generally know how their child is performing socially and academically; think in general terms (i.e. meeting/exceeding expectations rather than specific BAS or MAP scores)
• Remember that you don't have to answer all questions immediately - tell the parent you will get back to them
• Have an opening and closing line for each conference (i.e. So happy to connect with you and learn about your child; What can you share to help me get to know your child better?  We have about 2/5 minutes left in our conference - have we addressed all of your questions/concerns? Thank you so much for sharing about your child).
• You do not need to share MAP scores at this time as national norms have changed and the district level data is not yet available to help us really understand trends and give us context.  Instead, use this time to build positive relationships with the family.

Tech Reminders

• Cally Ahlin will be reachable at x8078 for any Google Meet issues

• Instructions for Families (Teachers/buildings can share these with families.)

• Instructions for Teachers 

• Staff Guide for Google Meet

COVID Guidelines Review

 

As we get further into the year, and are starting to experience some COVID related absences, I wanted to take the opportunity to review our guidelines for this fall.  I know there was a lot of information shared at the beginning of the year, and some staff have asked for a review:

• Masks must be worn by all students and at all times when indoors, unless there's a medical exemption (we don't have any exemptions in our building at this time).
• Staff must maintain a physical distance of no less than 6-10 feet of students whenever reasonable based upon your job responsibilities.
• Masks must be worn when with another colleague or student when together more than 15 minutes, and/or within 6 feet of each other for any amount of time.
• In order to keep our teachers/teams healthy, teams may meet or eat with each other, but must maintain a 6 foot minimum distance, and must wear a mask when not eating/drinking.
• Staff may eat in the staff lounge, with a maximum of one person per table; support staff have first priority as they don't always have spaces of their own.
• Staff are expected to self screen for COVID-19 symptoms; those with two or more symptoms should contact their supervisor and Human Resources.
• Students may take masks off outdoors if distanced more than 6 feet.  If this distance is not able to be maintained, masks must be on, even outdoors.

Thank you to everyone for working diligently to meet these guidelines.  It's making it possible for us to stay in school!  Please let me know if you have specific questions.  

For additional information, please refer to:

• Complete HSD guidelines for return: HSD Covid Updates
• COVID-19 School Based Exclusion (from Public Health, 9/16)
• When does my child need to stay home? (St. Croix County, 9/16)
• COVID-19 School Closure Metric