A positive school culture creates an environment where students feel safe, respected, and encouraged to take risks in their learning.
Establishing Shared Mission and Values
We focus on establishing a shared school mission, values, and behaviors geared toward both academic and social-emotional success for every student. This involves building and maintaining meaningful relationships among teachers and staff and creating an environment where all members feel safe, valued, and seen.
Reinforcing Positive Behavior
Our school has positive behavior messages displayed in the hallways, lunchroom, bathrooms, and recess areas. Through “Modeling,” teachers engage students by demonstrating skills while describing each step with a rationale. This approach provides students with both a visual and verbal example of what is expected of them.
Teachers model the behavior they want to see reflected in how students treat each other. We emphasize respectful language and uphold a high standard of interactions, expecting students to relate to one another in a positive and supportive way in the classroom.
Promoting Core Values Across School Spaces
Our goal is to create a school environment that places high value on respect, diversity, academic integrity, and honesty. To reinforce these values, we have placed signs around our soccer golf course and will also place them along the cross-country course.
This year, I have noticed our school culture becoming increasingly positive. “Buy-in” is crucial for cultural change, as it ensures that all school community members, including teachers, staff, students, and parents, actively support and participate in the desired changes. This leads to a more sustainable and effective transformation in the school environment. Without widespread support, initiatives to improve culture may face resistance and struggle to take root.
For example, in the hallway, teachers observe other classes that are walking quietly, modeling positive behavior. I have heard students in my class encourage each other to listen because they know they will learn more when everyone is attentive.
Every month, students are recognized at the Student of the Month ceremony. These students are chosen by teachers for making positive choices during the school day, reinforcing the importance of positive behavior.
Fostering Mentorship and Community Spirit
One of my favorite observations this fall is older students giving up their recess time to help younger students during PE class. When I ask the older students why they are helping, they respond that it makes them feel better. Younger students, in turn, share that it’s “really cool when the big kids help me learn.” This has had a positive impact in my PE classes.
Empowering Student Voices
Within every class, students use their voices to help create class values and behaviors. This has led to a powerful transformation in our school, as students are more likely to engage in learning when they feel their opinions are valued and heard. When students feel respected and supported, they are more likely to form positive relationships with both staff and other students.
Our goal is to create a school culture that motivates and engages students. I encourage all educators to reflect on their own school culture and consider ways to cultivate a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.
