JWL Weekly Student/Family Update
3/27/23 All the news that fits
Reminders
- P2 Character Trait Monday/Tuesday in HR= HUMOR
- Intramurals WED or continued P2 Discussion/Organization
- CFES THURSDAY in HR
- REMEMBER- 2:30-3 CLUBS ARE AVAILABLE
P2 Weekly Trait = HUMOR
IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE
Friday in homeroom students watched a video message regarding the current culture/climate in our schools. We have had an increase in physical aggression in our building and it is creating feelings of anxiety and in some cases, fear, among our students. The aggressive behavior we are seeing at JWL, in schools locally, and nationwide is a product of what is happening within our community and society as a whole. However, it is important as educators, parents, and trusted adults that we acknowledge our specific JWL student experiences and provide ways for students to feel validated in their concerns. Please know that as the Principal and building leader of the Junior High, I am deeply troubled to know that students do not feel safe. Below are some steps that we are taking as a building. I encourage you to reach out to me if you have questions or concerns.
- JWL Staff met with Superintendent Brady and Officer Mike Flynn of the Massena PD on Friday to discuss the culture of violent behavior in the community and it's spillage into our district.
- Staff provided suggestions for actionable items we can take as a building and district moving forward. These include more training for staff regarding de-escalation, training for staff to promote community building/connection for students within our building, clearly communicated student expectations and consistent discipline for minor infractions, in addition to teaching students how to properly address conflict.
- The request for a School Resource Officer was made, as well as the request for an increased presence in the building of law enforcement and district personnel of authority.
- The need for a forum to be provided for students to speak about these concerns was voiced, to allow them to feel validated and heard.
Below are the suggestions for parent/family conversation regarding school safety.
- Check in with your student to ask how they are feeling.
- Remind students of the protective factors in place at school; caring teachers, counselors, administrators and support staff who are taking measures to maintain the school as a safe learning environment, and peers who care about them and support them.
- Discuss the importance of 'see something/say something' and encourage students to come forward with information they may have (anonymously if they prefer).
- Talk about social media usage and remind students to not say/post anything they would not want read publicly.
- Many of the fights we have seen, upon investigation, are a result of miscommunication or lack of communication between the offender and victim. Encourage your student to address a concern with a peer VERBALLY face to face to clarify instead of engaging in aggressive physical behavior.
We take physical violence at school very seriously and we give the maximum disciplinary action that is allowable when students engage in fights or assaults.
- When students engage in a fight or assault, they receive an out of school suspension and we follow a progressive discipline model with increased amounts of time out of school if/when students continue the behavior.
- We support involvement of law enforcement if/when parents wish to press charges.
- We mandate aggressive behavior be met with student opportunities for correction and growth. (When we know better, we do better.)
- We facilitate the provision of outside supports (counseling, involvement of child and family services, chemical substance education, PINS, law enforcement )
- We mandate either restorative conversations (when appropriate) or restorative accountability projects which are intended to address the harm that was done and ways it can be repaired, and prevented in the future.
- We welcome feedback and we want to provide transparency to families who are concerned with the culture/climate in our Jr High.
Respectfully,
Kendra Quinlan
Principal JWL
9 School Days until Spring Break. We got this!
About Us
Email: kquinlan@mcs.k12.ny.us
Website: https://jwjh.mcs.k12.ny.us/
Location: 1 School Street, Massena, NY, USA
Phone: (315) 764-3720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/812944242085434