How can we promote a positive school community?
Connectedness is the most important tool in creating a positive school community. Connectedness is the sense of caring for others and feeling cared for.
Connectedness is all about:
Connectedness is all about:
- relationships
- belonging
- inclusion
- active participation.
Relationships
Positive relationships between students and school staff can lead to the school community becoming a source of security, stability and support for all students.
Respectful relationships value a person’s strengths, and in a school setting every individual will have strengths and can feel valued.
Respectful relationships value a person’s strengths, and in a school setting every individual will have strengths and can feel valued.
Belonging
A sense of belonging provides young people with purpose, meaning, self-worth and social control, all of which are contributors to positive mental health.
Students with a sense of belonging are more motivated to participate actively in the life of the classroom.
Students with a sense of belonging are more motivated to participate actively in the life of the classroom.
Inclusion
Inclusion involves embracing the diversity that exists within a community. The school can celebrate and honour the differences between people in their community.
All students should be encouraged to ensure that everyone is included and feels that they belong.
All students should be encouraged to ensure that everyone is included and feels that they belong.
Active participation
Active participation refers to individuals taking part in school life and contributing meaningfully to all aspects of the school community.
If students can make a meaningful contribution they will have a sense of importance and feel respected. This can flow on to improved attitudes to school and increased engagement.
Students should be encouraged to "have a go" and celebrate the achievements of those who do.
If students can make a meaningful contribution they will have a sense of importance and feel respected. This can flow on to improved attitudes to school and increased engagement.
Students should be encouraged to "have a go" and celebrate the achievements of those who do.