Student Perceptions of School Culture
One of our priority areas is to seek out student voice and listen. The YouthTruth Student Survey is a recent example of that focus. In a February 7, 2019 report to the school board, I shared data from the survey administered in our secondary schools last fall.
As noted in that report, we heard from 1,337 middle school students and 1,808 high school students about their experience in school. Relationships, Culture, and Peer Belonging and Collaboration received the highest scores for both middle and high school students. In these areas, our students reported above national norms in their perceptions of school climate and relationships. These positive results align with our administrators’ commitment to fostering safe, welcoming, and inclusive school environments. Our elementary students completed a similar survey earlier this month and we will have those results later this spring.
With the survey results in hand, our building administrators will review the data with staff, students, and other stakeholders and will begin to act on the findings over the course of the next several months.
Student Voice – Boys & Girls Club Keystone Club Project
Since January, I have been working with a small team of Corvallis High School students who are members of the Keystone Club at the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis. This team received a grant to complete a survey of their peers related to bullying in school. The team’s survey results offer a different lens than the YouthTruth results and indicates that many students have experienced bullying and that more awareness about bullying prevention is needed.
The team has recommendations including a school assembly and the formation of a committee made up of staff and students. I am pleased to support this type of student engagement, and administrators are exploring how these recommendations might be adopted in our high schools. We will continue to engage with these students to implement effective strategies to increase the awareness of bullying and what students and staff can do to improve school climate.
Fostering Positive School Communities
The Corvallis School District is committed to providing a positive and productive learning and working environment. Board policy JFCF defines unacceptable bullying behaviors and provides a formal complaint and investigation process. While the policy focuses on the definition of bullying behaviors, the focus in our schools is to recognize and nurture positive behaviors to foster school communities that are respectful, kind, and inclusive.
Corvallis School District administrators, teachers, counselors, and all support staff are expected to make every effort to help students feel safe in school. All district K-8 schools use PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) which is a structured behavior system for schools. PBIS provides a framework for how to recognize positive behaviors, create clear expectations, acknowledge those who meet those expectations, and provide support to those who do not. Nearly 50 district staff recently attended the annual northwest PBIS conference this winter, and administrators are actively leading school teams in PBIS. At the high school level, interpersonal relationships are part of the curriculum in the Freshman Health class, which is now required for all 9th graders. Other arenas for supporting positive school communities at the high school level includes senior seminar, small group discussions, and the soon to be implemented Sources of Strength peer training.
Parents and other caring adults also have a role to play to prevent bullying. They can model kindness and respect, encourage kids to share safety fears or concerns, and help kids understand the consequences of bullying behavior.
What parents can do:
- Talk with your student about what bullying looks like and how to define it.
- Help your student understand the importance of treating everyone with respect.
- Ask your student about their classes and what is happening at school.
- Encourage your student to stand up for others.
Students are encouraged to report bullying to a staff member who will work to resolve the issue. Anonymous tips may also be made via the SafeOregon tip line by phone or text to 844-472-3367 or online at: https://tips.safeoregon.com/ All tips are investigated and followed up on by school administrators or designated school staff.
Every student deserves to feel safe in school. We are committed to continuing to strengthen bullying awareness and to promoting positive school environments throughout our district.