In most television shows and movies about high school, the characters always run for their student council, promising to change their lunch menu, or school policies that all students complain about but no one can actually effect. Everyone knows students cannot truly change much about the school regarding class structure, homework, and the length of lunch. However, students are the best people for the job if they are looking to change the overall culture and climate of the school. The Culture and Climate Team at Fossil Ridge High School makes this possible.
At the latest meeting, with student attendance at an all-time low, teacher and facilitator Brendan Gallagher mentioned that with such a small work force, the Culture Team will not be able to achieve all its goals for the year. If more students participate, it will be easier for plans to be set in action.
Towards the beginning of the school year, students took a survey in advisory about how safe they feel in certain aspects of the school’s culture. The three lowest ranking categories – social and civic learning (stress), social and emotional wellness, and on social media – were taken to the Culture Team, which split into sub-groups to focus on ways to improve those aspects of the school.
A major theme in each sub-group is making students feel as though they belong. Whether it is having a friend to talk to between classes, people to help protect others from cyberbullying, or having the ability to deal with stressful classes, the biggest part of a student’s comfort in the school environment has to do with human connection.
To help fix these problems, the Social Media sub-group aims to educate students on how to stop their peers from posting inappropriate messages or spreading hate about other students. They hope to create advisory lessons, some type of media campaign using Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other sites, and Ridge TV segments on how to stick up for others. For Social and Emotional Safety, that sub-group wants to help every student feel included in school life by placing an emphasis on positive messages about students who come from other countries or have disabilities. This involves many projects where students will be challenged to get to know someone new and do a random act of kindness, as well as promote Unified Sports. Social and Civic Learning centers on giving students resources for stress management. They want students to be self-aware and able to visit a website that can help them relax, and a judgement-free area where they can get anything off their chest is a goal.
Attending a Culture Team meeting is one of the best ways students can directly influence and better Fossil. All opinions and thoughts are welcome at these meetings and it is often one large brainstorming activity. More brainpower is needed, though, along with hands to help get the ball rolling on many projects. Students who go to a meeting will not only be welcomed with open arms, but also joyously included because they can bring fresh ideas to the table. Those who wish to partake in the Culture Team can attend the next meeting on Thursday, March 10, or contact any of the counselors, deans, vice principals, or STUCO reps for more information on how to help.
