The Opportunity to Gain Empathy and Learn From Each Other

Hello Students and Parents,

We have had a very powerful week with Dwayne Peace large group, small group, and the parent sessions.  Thanks to everyone that took part. The feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive and several of our students indicated that this was the single most important thing they have done in school.  This week has had a significant impact on the perspectives of staff and students alike.  We invest significant energy into relations, be it at school, at work, or at home.  We are all impacted to varying degrees by drama, rumors, gossip,
bullying, and power.  Having the unified desire to change the expectations for each other, provides all members of the community the opportunity to gain empathy and learn from each other.  I encourage parents and students to keep the conversations going.

If you haven’t had an opportunity to discuss with your students, try discussing some of these things that Dwayne mentioned, including:

• Bullying being a DR_G – The only thing that is missing is “U” when it comes to utilizing
  drama, rumors, and gossip.
• Not knowing what people have in their backpacks and adding bricks.  Everyone is going
  through something, and we are better, kinder people when we remember that.
• Removing bricks with three compliments a day.
• We all get to choose.  Good choices = Good consequences, Bad choices = bad
  consequences
• Own your decisions and your mistakes.

As a staff, we have been so moved by how this week has gone and this feels like a positive starting point to building the culture we want to see in our school. Thank you for your support as parents and students for seeing the benefit of this week.

Take care,
Principal