The mission statement of my school:
Dana Middle School is dedicated to the education of the total child. We are committed to providing a challenging curriculum that inspires academic, artistic, and physical excellence while fostering positive self-esteem, respect, enthusiasm and cooperation.
Dana Middle School is dedicated to the education of the total child. We are committed to providing a challenging curriculum that inspires academic, artistic, and physical excellence while fostering positive self-esteem, respect, enthusiasm and cooperation.
- How is the challenge of making stakeholders feel welcome to your school (or place of work) connected to your school mission? When stakeholders feel welcome it will build self-esteem and a sense of respect, which will contribute to a feeling of enthusiasm and a cooperative environment.
- What did you do to assess which stakeholder group (or subgroup) could be more effectively welcomed? And what did you find? I did a self-analysis: what can I do in my classroom to make stakeholders feel welcome. I reflected on how a new student is welcomed into my classroom. I greet them warmly, and seat them next to a student I trust to help them keep up with what we are doing, and I make sure they are connected with someone who can help them find their next class. But, on reflection, I see that I'm not doing much to help them feel a part of our classroom community; I'm expecting them to get up to speed with us, but with very little support. And I'm not connecting with their families, either, another stakeholder group that I should be valuing.
- Future Sphere of Influence: What would you do to improve welcoming this group if you were the school leader? The administration at my school (influenced by our text) has put a service cycle into place for help new students feel welcome when they come to Dana. I think it would be beneficial to break this down to a classroom level, as well, and have a conversation with teachers and staff about how to make students and families feel welcome to the classroom community.
- Current Sphere of Influence: What can you do in your present position to enhance welcoming these stakeholders? Five things I am willing to do this semester to make my classroom a more welcoming place:
- Create a service cycle, in collaboration with my students, to help new students feel comfortable with the expectations of the class. Provide training for interested students to be a fully thought-out support system for new students.
- Send a postcard to families of new students, welcoming them to our school and specifically to my classroom, and providing contact information in case they have questions or concerns.
- Work with the journalism class to develop a "Welcome to Dana" brochure to be presented to new students and their families.
- Meet with the administration to consider these welcoming routines for all new students and families.
- Make it a point to make a personal connection with new students on a daily basis by greeting them at the door by name and checking in to see if they need any support in navigating the school culture.