Creating a Common School Culture

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Creating a Common School Culture

• By Richard Lau

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Kalaheo High SchoolKailua, Hawaii

• Vision Kalaheo High School is a community
  of learners where individual potential is
  nurtured in an environment of mutual respect.
• Mission To prepare students for higher
  education, future employment, and responsible
  citizenship.

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Kalaheo High School

• Well-educated community
• Median family income of 56,788
• Over 35 of students from military families

• Established in 1976
• Faculty and staff of 90
• Long history of OIA and State Championship Boys
  Basketball Teams

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Focus

• How can student leaders promote school culture?
• What kinds of activities create a sense of
  belonging among students?
• How can Orientation Day be effective in giving a
  good first impression of our school culture?

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Rationale

• Large population of students from military
  families
• Over half of student population from out of state
• No common school culture
• 38 of students and 45 of parents disagree that
  school is a safe and good place to learn.

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Culture plays a significant role as a determinant
of change.
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What is school culture?

• A set of beliefs, assumptions, and attitudes held
  by students, teachers, parents, staff, and school
  community
• A complex pattern of norms, attitudes, beliefs,
  behaviors, values, ceremonies, traditions, and
  myths
• the way we do things around here

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Challenges of School Culture

• Nature of learning is changing.
• Student population is diverse and constantly
  changing.
• Norms of school life are changing.

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Benefits of a Positive and Healthy School Culture

• Helps to build relationships
• Develops an inviting approach to learning
• Increases school spirit and pride
• Promotes diversity as a resource
• Empowers students to take charge of their learning

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If KNOWLEDGE is power,then COMMUNICATION isthe
tool for sharing POWER.
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Communication Patterns

• Modeling
• Questioning
• Interviewing
• Interaction Patterns
• Information Processing
• Feedback
• Common Language
• Consensus Planning
• Facilitation

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RitualsCeremoniesTraditions
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Rituals

• Procedures or routines infused with deeper
  meaning
• Common experiences become uncommon events

• Orientation Day
• Assemblies
• Open House
• Advisory Groups
• Mustang Fridays
• Drug Free Week

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Ceremonies

• Mark transitions in the school year
• Binds students together
• Shape unwritten values and rules
• Celebrates successes
• Recognizes special contributions

• Honor Roll
• Student Government Induction
• NHS Installation
• Academic Awards
• Athletic Awards
• Commencement

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Traditions

• Events having special history or meaning
• Symbolizes school culture
• Gives foundation to weather challenges,
  difficulties, and change

• Homecoming
• Luaus
• New Years Ball
• Proms
• May Day
• Senior Farewell

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Ways to Celebrate Learning

• Exchange stories that bring pride.
• Publicize activities in newspapers and public
  events
• Provide awards for achievements.
• Write letters of appreciation.

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A positive and healthy school culture celebrates
itself.
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Resources

• Barth, R. S. (2002). The Culture Builder.
  Educational Leadership, 54(8), 6-11.
• Boccia, J. (1997). Students Taking the Lead.
  San Francisco, CA Jossey-Bass Inc.
• Dalin, P. (1993). Changing the School Culture.
  New York, NY Cassell.
• Deal, T. Peterson, K. (1999). Shaping School
  Culture. San Francisco, CA Jossey-Bass Inc.
• Goldman, G. Newman, J. (1998). Empowering
  Students to Transform Schools. Thousand Oaks,
  CA Corwin Press.
• Lambert, L. G. (1988). Building school culture
  an open letter to principals. NASSP Bulletin,
  72(506), 54-62.