Some of the strongest memories students have of their school when they get older are the traditions their school had in place to create a warm and welcoming environment. Maybe it was the holiday concert or the sports awards ceremony. Or maybe it was a simple tradition of coming together to celebrate student success at a community meeting.
Cate Reed, seasoned administrator, current Senior Vice President of Teach For America, and Possip Reporter, explains how to foster a deep sense of belonging through regular school community meetings.
Having a strong community meeting at school creates an inclusive culture where everyone feels heard and valued, and people can be regularly recognized for their contributions. These meetings, if done in a celebratory and consistent manner, can provide lots of opportunities to recognize hard work, persistence, and kindness among students and staff.
Here are some tips to help you organize effective and engaging community meetings–and to have students looking forward to gathering with one another and with teachers and staff.
Have a Regular Schedule
Establish a regular schedule for community meetings, so parents, teachers, and other stakeholders can plan to attend. Consistency builds anticipation and encourages ongoing participation. Once a week for an hour is plenty! Publish the schedule early in the year, and consider having a topic for each meeting that students know is coming. The schedule for the time should be consistent so students know what to expect.
Keep It Student Centered
Have students pick the songs, select the topics, and lead the meetings. Consider having a grade level or classroom lead each week, with one student doing a welcome or reflection. Having a lead student nominated from your upper grades to lead the meeting can be a way to have students aspire to that role.
Include Lots of Stakeholders!
These meetings can be a way to include other people from the community in your school. Periodically, you can host family coffees after these events for people to gather socially.
Consider inviting a community speaker to share reflections with the school. The local head of the food bank, a city councilperson, or a retired teacher from the school would love a chance to share their advice with students. For more ideas, check out “How School Leaders Can Help Build Family-Teacher Relationships”.
Build In Tradition
Always sing the school alma mater, perform a cheer, or sing the same song. Have a song book of school favorites that you can use over and over. Students will begin to associate the ritual with the time they have with their peers.
Recognize Success!
Take the time to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of the school community. Recognizing accomplishments, whether big or small, helps build a positive and supportive environment. Get staff in on it. Use specific praise for students, and consider having teachers award weekly commendations for students who exhibit the values your school holds dear. Be sure to keep track of who is recognized so students all experience it over the course of a year, and use it as a way to publicly praise students who are really making an effort to succeed academically or socially. Every once in a while solicit students to offer commendations as well; it is a great way to ensure teachers see they are valued.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Use various communication channels to inform the school community about upcoming meetings. Utilize newsletters, social media, and school websites to reach a broad audience. Ensure that the information is easily accessible and translated if necessary.
After each meeting, provide a summary of discussions, decisions, and action items in an email to the school. This helps keep everyone informed and ensures accountability. Follow up on action items in subsequent meetings.
Provide Opportunities for Feedback
Allow for open feedback and suggestions. Create mechanisms for people to submit their thoughts anonymously if they prefer. Consider using surveys, Pulse Checks®, or suggestion boxes to collect input outside of meetings.
By creating a community meeting grounded in your incredible students and staff, everyone can have a moment of joy each week where people are celebrated for who they are and all they do!
