Blog Viewer

Improving School Culture...Activities with the Community

By Brian Lile posted 03-30-2018 16:10

  

Over the past several months, I have shared strategies we have used with our staff and students to improve our school culture.  This month, I will share strategies that we have used with our community to enhance our school culture.  These strategies have improved our community relations, as well as improved our staff morale and community support.  We have also witnessed an increase in the positive view of our school within the community.  My hope is that something I share will spark an idea that you can apply within your own school/district.

  • Great News/Successes Weekly Email
    • Each Monday morning, I send out a “Great News/Successes” email to our staff, parents, and community. The great news/successes are composed from the positive news sent to me from Muhlenberg South Middle School (MSMS) staff, parents, and community members. I request the staff at MSMS to send me their Great News/Successes each day or at least every couple of days.  I compile this list throughout the week and send out the Great News/Successes email each Monday morning.  This has been invaluable to us and has generated a lot of positive comments from our community members.  This process allows my staff to focus on at least one positive throughout each day.  I want the staff to leave school focused on the great events of the day, rather than the things that went wrong.  I want them to look forward to creating more success tomorrow.  We are also flooding our community with positive communications, which in turn will hopefully drown out any negatives that surface. 

 

  • Thank You Thursday
    • Each month, we host a Thank You Thursday luncheon to honor special groups throughout our district and community. We want to convey to them how much we appreciate all they do for our school and community.  We honor our: First Responders, Bus Drivers, Board Members, Central Office Leadership, District Technology Staff, Maintenance/Mowing Crew, Community Leaders, MSMS Retired Staff, etc.  We love to welcome our community into our school and let them see the great things that are happening at MSMS.  As a staff, we are able to connect with these individuals and enhance our partnership with them.  I enjoy all of these events, but my favorite would have to be our Thank You Thursday honoring all staff members who have retired from MSMS.  It is great to see these individuals again and they love coming back and getting to see everyone as well.  We also have a “Forever South Suns” memory table honoring any staff members who have passed away.

 

  • School Safety Meeting
    • We are in constant conversation with our local law enforcement and first responders. Our district creates opportunities for each school to host our first responders and discuss specific situations as they relate to Muhlenberg South Middle.  We are able to review our procedures and conduct a drill while they are present.  After the drill, we are able to reflect and find areas of improvement.  The district also conducts safety meetings with all first responders, central office leadership personnel, and school administrators.  These meetings allow for critical conversations and lead to improvements in our district, as they relate to safety.  
0 comments
21 views