Letter from the Superintendent
“ Students who have positive relationships with each other and adults feel connected...” reensburg Salem
GREENSBURG SALEM SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Dr. Eileen Amato –
Superintendent
Photo by Jeremy Lenzi
This month’ s cover highlights a new pilot program we have this year at the Greensburg Salem School District. The program is a partnership with the city police office where on-duty officers visit the schools and talk with students informally in halls, bus lines, lunchrooms and even in some classrooms. We are happy to add this program as part of our mission to provide students with both a safe and supportive environment for learning. Much research has been done at both the state and national levels regarding school safety. There is a very high correlation between student achievement and schools that are reported to be safe. When students feel secure, their focus is on learning. When they don’ t feel secure, they worry more, become distracted and think about school topics less.
Prior to this initiative, the district implemented a variety of new safety measures in the past several years. We do thorough background and clearance checks for anyone coming into contact with students, have instituted universal entry and sign in procedures at all district facilities, and have installed security cameras and equipment in all the buildings. Our safety committee has put together detailed safety plans which describe how to respond to a variety of safety situations and we have shared these plans with our local first responders. We also have done safety training with staff on teacher in-service days.
Most research on school safety, though, shows that it is ultimately the school culture that defines how safe a school is. Students who have positive relationships with each other and adults feel connected and then are willing to share if they see or hear anything that causes them concern. Our elementary schools and our middle school have, over the past several years, developed positive behavior support plans. Students are taught behaviors that support learning and are discouraged from exhibiting those that impede learning. We have also added staff such as Emotional Support staff, classroom assistants, PCAs and counselors to assist students with special needs. On any given day at Greensburg Salem, students are getting the support they need to be engaged in learning and working towards developing skills and understandings that will contribute to their academic growth.
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Much emphasis is placed on respecting each other and valuing each person as an individual. Students are encouraged to work on study teams and let each member contribute and add value to the group. When students feel valued and respected that adds to their level of safety. All of that helps to create the positive learning environment that is so critical for our learners. Yet, with all of our positive efforts, we know we can’ t do it alone. We have partnerships with Mental Health, the Children’ s Bureau, the YMCA, Community Action and many other local groups that give us help and assistance when students experience mental health and / or family issues that go beyond our level of expertise.
We also know that when students report a feeling of ownership in their school, they tend to feel more secure and safe. Giving them a voice, promoting student leadership, letting student interests be a part of curriculum tasks, allowing expression through the arts all contributes to a healthy environment where children can grow and learn. All of these practices contribute to the supportive side of the school climate which we believe is so important.
Finally, that takes us back to this new tier of support with the police department. We are extremely happy to be a part of this important partnership which we feel has many layers of positive impact. One of the biggest advantages is that our students can get to know their law enforcement officers initially on an informal basis. If they are ever needed for a safety measure, students will already know and value them. Since law enforcement officers will be visiting on days that follow our regular routines, they can become familiar with our schedules, staff and students prior to any safety event that may arise. As a result, they are not learning the people, facility or routines at the time of an incident.
We also hope that our local officers become one of those trusted adults that students feel comfortable sharing with if they feel something they see or hear just may not be right. And ultimately, we want our police officers to be one more adult role model for children who can teach them about our community’ s laws and why they are important. At Greensburg Salem, we want all of our young people to be productive, caring and respectful adults and we look forward to adding yet another meaningful learning opportunity for our young people.
The Greensburg Salem School District pages are edited and compiled by the Community Relations Department. For more information please contact Melissa Bowman, at 724.832.2907 or melissa. bowman @ gslions. net.