Middle School: What is a Safe and Supportive School? by Alison Sancinito https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp Use this Padlet to complete your first hour of asynchronous time as part of the SaSS team. Explore the learning resources in Classroom to learn more about the components of a SaSS. Use this wall to frame your thinking using one or both of the following formats: I used to think ________________________ and now I think __________________________ or Notice & Wonder. Please continue the conversation with your colleagues as we work to understand and eventually define for ourselves what a SaSS is in Groton-Dunstable. en-us 2021-03-01 17:58:57 UTC 2021-03-25 18:04:17 UTC hello@padlet.com Caroline Keras- I used to think that the desire to help make school a welcoming place was inherent for all staff and now I think that it takes a concerted and sincere effort. https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1260034185 2021-03-02 18:34:36 UTC https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1260034185 Karyn Copland https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1297653094  “The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth” - African proverb

I used to think that if adults could just work harder at building more meaningful relationships/connections with students it would naturally lead us to a safe and supportive school, now I see that it is more global than this. The relationships and connections need to extend beyond the teacher and the student.

]]> 2021-03-11 12:37:47 UTC https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1297653094 Tracy Weeks https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1348743766 I used to think that our school was safe and supportive based on what our students need and now I know that it is a constantly shifting and evolving target.  We are continuing to learn more and must shift to add and adapt.  I have always been a fan of the phrase "now that we know better it is our responsibility to do better" so the background information shared gives me a much larger picture.

I notice that surveying all stakeholders is the cornerstone of SaSS. I am looking forward to seeing this larger picture to do better.]]> 2021-03-24 16:05:28 UTC https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1348743766 Cara Zwicker czwicker https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1349770003 I used to think that if our students felt a connection to at least one adult at school, that it was a success. Now I think that our students and families shouldn't just feel one connection to an adult at school but to our school community. 
I also wonder if we allow enough time to reflect, as things continue to change so quickly and we are in a constant state of immediate response.

]]> 2021-03-24 19:24:04 UTC https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1349770003 Emma Blydenburgh eblydenburgh https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1353518561 I used to think that students learn better when they feel they are known well by their teachers and counselors and that they in turn know their teachers and counselors well. I still believe that. I've expanded my belief to include families and communities, facilitated by transparent communication and the welcome opportunity to connect.
I'm curious to see what the rest of middle school thinks.
 ]]> 2021-03-25 15:38:48 UTC https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1353518561 Alison Sancinito asancinito https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1353543528 I used to think Safe and Supportive Schools would occur if the staff better understood how to create a sense of belonging for all students. I led this effort in my last middle school. The student focus groups were so powerful as we focused in on equity driven disciplinary practices. I was proud of our work at the time and still am, but now I see that our work shouldn't have ended with the grant. Now that I am looking at this from a district lens, I now think that this work needs to happen in all spaces with the same level of commitment in order to really make sustainable change. We are responsible for learners as they enter our classrooms and schools as well as what happens before and after. We should have expanded our work to the elementary and high school in order to really effective change in one of the levers.]]> 2021-03-25 15:43:14 UTC https://padlet.com/asancinito/qkjb0dw4ixirsyhp/wish/1353543528