At the October Board of Education Meeting, Mrs. Washington, Dr. Horowitz, and a team of teachers and students from TJL provided insight into the many ways a culture of belonging has been created and continues to be reinforced at TJL.
In Ms. Osmun's class she has a room full of students with diverse needs and strengths and she thought it was important to teach students about diversity through literature. She chose the book, "Just Ask!" by Sonia Sotomayor. In the book, Sotomayor introduces characters with different challenges. The book teaches children to embrace their unique differences, celebrate their individuality, and ask questions. When we come across someone who is different than us but we're not sure why, all we have to do is just ask! After reading the book, the class worked with Ms. Hansen to create a mural of bright, beautiful, unique flowers to represent our differences and how they make us interesting.
For the last two years, TJL has had a No Place for Hate Committee comprised of students, staff, and community members. Since "Just Ask" taught students about identity, it was the perfect segway to introduce the concept of identity-based bullying and why its so important that TJL be a No Place for Hate school. Students from the committee visited classes throughout the building and taught the lesson using "Just Ask" and the No Place for Hate curriculum.
The last initiative that was highlighted were Talking Circles. Talking Circles promote inclusivity, build community, support social-emotional learning, and enhance communication skills. Students fully embraced this new method of group discussion and really enjoyed talking about their feelings with their peers and teachers. The Talking Circles create a safe space where diverse perspectives are encouraged and valued.
All of this important work being done at TJL reinforces the goals of the Strategic Plan. The main goals of the plan include ensuring all students are appreciated and supported, supporting the social-emotional wellness of students and staff, and providing real-world experiential learning opportunities for all students. This spotlight shows not only the importance of the work, but the lasting impact it has as well.
Date Added: 10/10/24