School Culture – School culture and climate is a passion of mine — I find the topic interesting, and there are so many different ideas, philosophies, tips, articles, books, blogs — you get the point. I really enjoy reading them all and taking little pieces with me to create my vision of leadership. I think almost everyone out there understands that culture and climate are key components of a school environment, but how to achieve this is another matter entirely. And, it’s hard! As a teacher, I was lucky enough to teach for seven years at a school that had an excellent school culture. We were respected as educators, the energy was generally positive, and the staff was full of problem solvers and visionaries. We’ve all had bad days, but overall our management and staff have worked hard to create a culture of acceptance, collaboration and passion. But how did they do it? How did they manage to get most of the staff to “buy in” to a shared vision for the school? Over the years I realized that it is a slow process and that there is no magic equation. In addition, many fluid factors can influence school culture.
I was reading a blog post by Jimmy Casas, who I first met at a conference quite a few years ago. A former principal, he shares a lot of good nuggets about school culture (find his new book here). I recently saw a quote from the book on Twitter that read: “For those who want to make a lasting impact on others, be prepared to share with them two of life’s most precious commodities. A gift of time and a gift of love. They will be forever grateful…” The reason I love this quote is that there are SO many new initiatives, best practices, suggestions on how to manage schools, foster collaboration, and personalize learning. I could go on and on. However, at the heart of it all, no matter what task you are trying to accomplish, are time and love. I believe that approaching situations with these two things in mind will ultimately change the school culture and climate for the better. Whether you are working with staff or students, share time and love in your approach .
School Culture
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
School Cultures Initiative (sci)
Katy Garvey is the Community Learning Manager for Source for Learning, the nonprofit parent company. She began her educational career teaching Spanish before working in administration. A former high school principal, Katy spends her free time exercising and with her family. View all posts by Katy GarveyPop Quiz: What does the word “culture” mean to you? Does it make you think about shared values? Lifestyle? Beliefs? Traditions? Behavior? These are just some of the ideas that come to mind when we talk about school culture, but there are many more! These are concepts that parents shopping for a school should consider when making the important decision of where to enroll.
We’ve identified seven key ways school culture can affect your student. See how many of these suit you!
A Christ-centered school provides a comprehensive, quality education in an environment where each student understands the life-changing message of God’s love. It’s not just a “religious studies” class added to the list of academic disciplines. It is about the constant integration of faith and learning through the curriculum. Examine the school’s mission to make sure it connects strong academics with an understanding of God’s character, his Word, and his world.
When a school employs teaching staff who are completely passionate about its mission, who are highly qualified and competent, and who truly see their work as a calling, the students simply benefit. Look for a school where teachers don’t just go through the motions and you’ll find students who will catch their enthusiasm. They understand that they are not just teaching; students learn!
Poll: Most Parents Don’t Like School Culture Wars
What better place to cultivate strong friendships than a school where students and school families share core beliefs? A healthy school can help children learn respect, kindness, authenticity and good, old-fashioned social skills. In addition, parents often report that some of their best adult friends were made in the context of their child’s school.
Does the school you are considering include the fun factor? Yes, there is a serious side to rigorous academics, but we also know that students need to have fun! Look for a school community where students can laugh and have fun, and where school traditions bring out the best in children, teachers and parents.
Let’s face it: almost every parent wants to know that the private Christian school they are considering has high standards of behavior. Look for a school that maintains biblical standards, reasonable rules and necessary accountability, as well as a commitment to grace and forgiveness. A healthy school creates an environment of genuine care and concern for each student and parent.
It’s a tough world out there, so students should feel free to ask caring teachers tough questions about life and faith. We all want our children to “own” their faith as they move into adulthood; a trusted teacher who calmly listens and responds with thoughtful and biblically sound counsel can make all the difference!
Pdf) School Culture
Look for an upbeat, positive school culture where students learn to work hard; discover their God-given gifts and abilities; connect classroom instruction with real-world service; and have fun along the way! We think it is the best way to prepare for college and beyond.
Are you considering a Christian school in the Largo, FL, area? Indian Rocks Christian School places a high priority on a positive school culture! Nicolet High School is located in Banning, California, a very small town located about halfway between my current city and Palm Springs in beautiful Southern California.
It was a typical Thursday morning and I had just started my day as the principal of the Colton Joint Unified School District Summer School in Colton, California. After welcoming the students with music blasting from my portable speaker, I settled down to check my email when my phone rang. The superintendent of the Banning Unified School District called me to offer me the position of principal at Nicolet High School. Nicolet High School is located in Banning, California, a very small town about halfway between my current city and Palm Springs in beautiful Southern California. Emotionally, to say the least, I couldn’t believe it was happening. My dream job.
I loved my three years as an elementary school assistant principal, but I missed working with students at the high school level. Of my 15 years in education, the most rewarding were the four years I spent teaching high school. In those four years, I discovered that I had the ability to really relate and connect with students of this age because of my own experiences at that age. I remember struggling a lot in high school. I struggled with accepting myself and fitting in. I was bullied to the point where I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I cried every day and I ended up having to change schools. High school age is such a crucial age! It’s an age where students can make decisions that will lead them down a path of success or self-destruction, and as the adults in their lives, we have so much power to help influence their choices. They just want to be seen and heard, and when we as adults provide them with those opportunities, they feel valued, loved and accepted. They understand that they matter and that their presence in the world matters. At the high school level, we can save lives! So I decided to take a risk, follow my dreams and apply to the school outside the district that had helped raise me since I was six years old and where I had spent my last 15 years as an educator. I got the call on Thursday, met with the board that night and got the keys to Nicolet High next week. I was now Principal Nicolet Palominos: a new, ambitious and naive “rookie” who was ready to take over the world.
The Bristol School With A ‘culture Day’ Dedicated To Celebrating The Diversity Of Their Students
After the initial excitement and euphoria wore off, it didn’t take long for a big fat reality check to hit us. When I excitedly introduced myself as the new principal of Nicolet Middle School, people responded with “Oh, good luck” and a tone that spoke louder than their words. “It can’t be that bad,” I thought to myself. “I come from difficult schools. What should I prepare for?” I quickly began learning about war stories and the traumatic events that had unfolded the year before. I knew I had a tough road ahead of me. But with a passionate and relentless heart, I convinced myself that I was ready.
Nicolet High School was a school that gained a reputation as the epicenter of student fights
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