The Shadder
OS Rotary Meeting 9/26/2018
Pledge: Sam Fulginiti
Prayer: Rev. Edward Cornell
Song: Bill McLaughlin
Cards: High Hand – won by Gary McCauley
Raffle: Wine – Sam Fulginiti; Oil – Westbrook High School student; and Candy – Peter Zucc
Happy Bucks: Sump Pump performing during the storm (Rev. Ed); dry basements (multiple members); guests from Westbrook High School (multiple members); Yankee Baseball (Joe Acari); and successful Shoreline Senior Club gala (Bill McLaughlin).
Presentation - Team Leadership – School Climate
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Presenters - Westbrook High School Students - Madison Libeitore, Lexi Koplas, Kendall Orlowski, Alex Young, Olivia Archer and Olivia Hartzell. The students and their faculty advisor, Chet Bialicki, were introduced by club member Tara Winch (who is also the Principal at Westbrook High School). The students spoke to the club about the Team Leadership – School Climate Project.
The School Climate Project evaluates the learning and social environment at Westbrook High School and identifies where improvements need to be made. The evaluation is based upon the 13 dimensions of school environment formulated by the National School Climate Center, a not-for-profit that promotes leadership and safe, supportive learning environments that nurture social and emotional civic and academic growth for all students. The 13 dimensions and information regarding the mission of the National School Climate Center can be found at www.schoolclimate.org.
The School Climate Project includes an advisory group for each of the 13 dimensions. Each advisory group has made a poster to explain its dimension and the posters were hung in the hallway to reinforce the attributes of each dimension.
The School Climate Project includes an Awareness Day where each student focused on positive attributes of his or her colleagues. Presentations were also given by representatives of the military and Lady Gaga’s Born this Way Foundation. The students also attend workshops to discuss:
- substance abuse;
- creating and maintaining a sense of security with relationships;
- social media;
- matters affecting classroom performance (In this workshop the students completed the phrase “If only my teacher knew….” listing the responsibilities, distractions and pressures at home and in school that affect their studies. A list of the responses was circulated to every high school teacher);
- what would you do if you were not afraid;
- the positive effects of massage and dog therapies; and
- leadership attributes focusing on Direct, Delegate, Distance and Development of Self Concept.
Members of the School Climate Project also discuss school climate issues with other grades through presentations which include the following:
- A presentation to second graders focusing on empathy. The presenters have the second graders form figures with Play-Doh to show what they are feeling and then those feelings are discussed.
- A presentation to fifth graders to discuss the book “Wonder – Choosing Kind”. The book is about a boy with craniofacial differences who has kindness in his heart and soul. The importance of kindness in all relationships is discussed and emphasized.
- A presentation to seventh and eighth graders focusing on self-concepts. The presentation given to the girls focuses on building confidence in their own bodies and the presentation to the boys focuses on showing, rather than hiding, their emotions.
The positive effects of the School Climate Project have resulted in the students being able to be more comfortable with themselves and to enjoy their relationships and educational experience.
The School Climate Project members have been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Connecticut Association of Schools/Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference so that the work of the School Climate Project can be shared with other communities.
Adjournment: Sam Fulginiti
