www.datiak12.io Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700:10::6816:42ed  Public Scan

Form analysis
2 forms found in the DOM

<form>
  <div class="form-group"><label for="sign-on-email"> Email Address <strong class="text-danger">*</strong></label><input id="sign-on-email" type="email" required="required" placeholder="example@gmail.com" autocomplete="email" class="form-control">
  </div><!----><!----><!----><small class="text-muted mb-1 d-block">
    <p class="mb-2">By submitting this form, you acknowledge that use of your data is governed by our <a href="https://www.datia.io/privacy/" target="_blank">Privacy Policy.</a></p>
  </small><button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary"> Sign Up </button><!---->
</form>

<form>
  <div class="form-group"><label for="sign-on-email"> Email Address <strong class="text-danger">*</strong></label><input id="sign-on-email" type="email" required="required" placeholder="example@gmail.com" autocomplete="email" class="form-control">
  </div><!----><!----><!----><small class="text-muted mb-1 d-block">
    <p class="mb-2">By submitting this form, you acknowledge that use of your data is governed by our <a href="https://www.datia.io/privacy/" target="_blank">Privacy Policy.</a></p>
  </small><button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary"> Sign Up </button><!---->
</form>

Text Content

 * Sign In

 * Leadership
 * Operations
 * Teaching & Learning
 * Technology
 * Student Success
 * Research
 * Facilities
 * Athletics

Topics
 * Leadership
 * Operations
 * Teaching & Learning
 * Technology
 * Student Success
 * Research
 * Facilities
 * Athletics



Resources
 * Sign In

 * Advertise
 * About Us
 * Contact Us
 * Become a Contributor

 * Sign In

 * Leadership
 * Operations
 * Teaching & Learning
 * Technology
 * Student Success
 * Research
 * Facilities
 * Athletics


 1. Leadership
 2. School Climate and Culture


COMBATING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, MORE DISTRICTS ARE WORKING TO CREATE A “CULTURE
OF BELONGING”

Strengthening relationships, deepening connections, and listening to students
are becoming strategic priorities.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ellen Ullman
September 20, 2024

Rochester CUSD 3A in Illinois invites students and community members to
participate in High Five Fridays, welcoming pre-K students to school.
Superintendent Dan W. Cox says “schools need to belong to students and to the
community."When Darlene Atkins became principal at Westlawn Middle School in
Alabama in August 2020, the school suffered from chronic absenteeism, rampant
teacher turnover, and loads of behavior challenges.  




“We couldn’t have whole group meetings without fights, or grade-level activities
without police officers present, and people had a negative perception of the
school,” says Atkins. The middle school for grades 6-8 enrolls 500 students and
is part of the Tuscaloosa City Schools.  

Believing that improving the culture and developing a sense of belonging were
crucial, Atkins formed a School of Character team that determined six core
values that Westlawn students should embody, including kindness, perseverance,
and integrity. “We wanted to make our building a safe haven and show kids how to
rise above what’s happening in our community,” Atkins says. Westlawn was named a
National School of Character by Character.org in 2022. 



Atkins and school leaders established a “House System” that assigned students to
teams, or houses, named after core values, such as Kindness, Integrity, Service,
and Perseverance, and students are given monthly awards for highest attendance
and fewest office referrals. Houses compete in sports and other games and
activities. “We provide them with the feeling of belonging to something larger
than themselves, and they learn that they have to be here to be in on the
action,” says Atkins. 



As a result of these efforts, Atkins says Westlawn’s report card score is
projected to increase by 10 points this year, discipline issues have dropped,
and its teacher retention rate is higher than the district’s.  



“A crisis of belonging”
K-12 students are facing “an acute crisis of belonging” and school districts
“have the essential duty of fostering a sense of belonging among all students,”
according to a June 2024 report from the Aspen Institute, A Crisis of Student
Belonging. The report goes on to state that a sense of belonging in schools is
vital to academic success, improved classroom behavior, and high graduation
rates, while describing rising rates of chronic absenteeism as “another
indicator of the student belonging crisis."



A strategic pillar 
Elaine Kane, superintendent of Alton Community Unit School District 11 in
Illinois, prioritized fostering a sense of belonging in the district’s new
improvement plan. “We want to make sure that our actions and our decisions and
our allocation of resources create a culture of belonging for everyone,” Kane
said at the board meeting announcing the plan.  



Initiatives in the 6,700-student district include Link Crew, a program from the
Boomerang Project, where high school juniors and seniors apply to become Link
leaders, each responsible for mentoring a group of 10 freshmen. Leaders receive
training and organize Link Day, a freshman orientation event filled with group
activities designed to help freshmen build connections. The leaders continue to
support their group of freshmen throughout the year. “The program shows freshmen
they are cared for, and it’s a fun experience for everyone involved,” Kane
adds. 



Culture-building efforts for staff include after-school wellness and yoga
classes, and a staff advisory group to build connections. 



Ypsilanti Community Schools in Michigan added a student section in the bleachers
after a request from the student council. Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross says
even small efforts like this can create a sense of belonging.Small changes, big
results 
Sometimes, helping students feel like they belong comes down to small gestures,
as Alena Zachery-Ross, superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools in
Michigan, discovered. One simple but impactful step Zachery-Ross recently took
was adding a dedicated student section in the bleachers for athletic events,
after getting feedback from students. “The student council requested it—they
wanted a space where they could sit together and feel like they belonged. So, we
sectioned off part of the bleachers and put up a banner. The feedback has been
incredible!” 

In response to other feedback from student surveys about school culture,
Ypsilanti High School now plays music in the lunchroom and has themed days, like
Mindfulness Monday or Cowboy Hat Friday. 



Belonging to the community 
Administrators from Wahluke Junior High School in Washington visit homes of
family members to recognize their efforts in supporting students and making sure
they attend school with a weekly Good Friend Award.Last year, Wahluke Junior
High School in Washington introduced a weekly Good Friend Award program to help
students see the value of school and boost their motivation to attend and learn.
The administration recognizes a teacher-nominated family member for their
efforts in supporting their student. Administrators visit the recipient’s home,
set off a confetti cannon, and the student presents the award. “At first, we
struggled to get nominations,” says Assistant Principal Michael Kantman. “But by
the end of the year, parents were calling, wondering if they were doing
something wrong if they hadn’t been nominated.” 



Rochester CUSD 3A in Illinois began hosting High Five Fridays, where community
members visit the early childhood center to give “high fives” to every child as
they enter the school. “When you are part of a district, you are part of
something bigger than yourself,” says Superintendent Dan W. Cox. “Schools need
to belong to students and to the community.”  



Facebook IconLinkedIn IconTwitter X iconPinterest Icon
Insights
Enter your email address below to begin receiving the latest news from DATIA
K12.
Email Address *

By submitting this form, you acknowledge that use of your data is governed by
our Privacy Policy.

Sign Up
Unlock Personalized Content!
Sign up and the recommendations below will be more personalized for you!
Email Address *

By submitting this form, you acknowledge that use of your data is governed by
our Privacy Policy.

Sign Up
Recommended
Sponsored

BREAKING NEWS: NEW E-RATE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR K-12 CYBERSECURITY

Literacy/Reading/Language Arts

HOW TENNESSEE’S LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEM IS STEPPING UP ITS LITERACY WORK


More in School Climate and Culture
Mental Health and Wellness

THE RAPID RISE OF SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS

Districts offering health services report improved student wellbeing,
attendance, and academic achievement.


Partner Insights

BREAKING NEWS: NEW E-RATE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR K-12 CYBERSECURITY

TriVigil
A new E-Rate pilot program announced by the FCC in July has made $200 million of
new funds available to schools and districts to purchase cybersecurity
solutions. The application window is now open but closes soon. Download this
brief strategy guide to learn how to apply.

Policy and Legislation

KIDS LIKE FREE SCHOOL MEALS. STATES ARE TRYING TO REEL IN THE COSTS.

Chalkbeat Chicago
The number of kids eating breakfast and lunch has jumped in the eight states
that now have universal free school meals.


Mental Health and Wellness

NEW JERSEY DISTRICT ENHANCING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Lebanon Township using the Choose Love Movement program to improve school
culture and student wellbeing


School Climate and Culture

CONFRONTING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM: NYC SCHOOLS LEAN ON DATA, TAP PEER-TO-PEER
SUPPORT

More educators have found themselves addressing issues that exist beyond the
school’s environment, such as students’ access to health care, childcare, and
transportation.

Mental Health and Wellness

ONE NEW YORK DISTRICT’S OLD-SCHOOL APPROACH TO SUPPORT KIDS’ WELL-BEING

As the youth mental health crisis continues, a Long Island district finds paths
to support families through their most vulnerable moments.


Strategic Planning

FACING ENROLLMENT DECLINES, BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS ANNOUNCES NEW STRATEGIC PLAN
THAT PRIORITIZES "CUSTOMER SERVICE"

Superintendent Mark Sullivan says this is a "pivotal" moment for the
20,000-student Alabama district. "We have to get this right."



Mental Health and Wellness

SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH. HERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS AND FREE
RESOURCES FOR K-12 LEADERS

Any educator or district employee who interacts with students can play an
important role in keeping them safe.


Op-ed

HOW MY DISTRICT IS RETHINKING EVALUATIONS TO HELP TEACHERS GROW AND IMPROVE

Superintendent's view: By emphasizing teachers’ confidence in their abilities,
we created an environment that fosters professional development.


Policy and Legislation

SCHOOLS UPDATING POLICIES TO ADDRESS POST-PANDEMIC STUDENT MISBEHAVIOR

South Bend School District looks for community buy-in as leaders look to revise
the Code of Conduct



Operations

THE ADL SAYS ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS HAVE NEARLY QUADRUPLED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
HERE ARE FOUR WAYS TO COMBAT HATE IN SCHOOLS

Teachers across the country have filed complaints reporting both antisemitic
behavior in schools and also what they have considered a lack of action by
school administrators.



Page 1 of 1
Most Popular
Mental Health and Wellness

THE RAPID RISE OF SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS

Op-ed

IN HOUSTON ISD, A WHOLESALE TRANSFORMATION DELIVERS BETTER EDUCATION FOR
STUDENTS

Retention

REDUCING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM: STAYING POSITIVE, OFFERING INCENTIVES, AND
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY ARE KEY

Strategic Planning

NAVIGATING RESPONSIBLE AI INTEGRATION IN EDUCATION

Op-ed

THE PRIVILEGE OF PRESSURE: LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP FROM A MIXED-GENDER OLYMPIC
SAILING TEAM

Strategic Planning

THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT’S GUIDE TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

INSIGHTS BORN FROM DATA
 1. Advertise
 2. About Us
 3. Contact Us
 4. Become a Contributor
 5. Privacy Notice
 6. Site Map

© 2024 All rights reserved.