AFFIRMATION STATION ENCOURAGES OTHERS , BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS
Using just a whiteboard on wheels and a few dry erase markers , Mansfield Summit High School students and staff are using a mobile “ Affirmation Station ” to lift one another up . Since the beginning of the semester , each school day a campus employee is surprised with kind words on a white board written by a coworker or a group of students and staff .
“ I want to affirm your willingness to try new things and the passion that drives your work .”
This is the affirmation message that kicked off the initiative . Assistant Principal Stephanie Cavazos wrote it for theatre arts teacher Carolyn Phillips .
Theatre arts teacher Carolyn Phillips stands next to the Summit High School Affirmation Station , where kind words are written to her .
“ I want to affirm your willingness to try new things and the passion that drives your work ,” the message read .
“ I delivered the Affirmation Station to her room myself and asked her to stand near her students while I made an ‘ announcement ’ to everyone ,” said Cavazos .
“ She didn ’ t know what I was doing . Her face went from confusion , to surprise , to a big smile as I read the affirmation and the meaning behind it .”
Phillips said she is proud to be honored and elated that the hard work she and fellow teacher , Kirk Corley , are doing in the theatre program is seen .
To keep the Affirmation Station rolling , Phillips and her students wrote a message for librarian Jeneene Tahaney .
“ We affirm your dedication to providing students fun and engaging activities as well as a safe place to land ,” wrote Phillips .
Since then , each staff member who is honored chooses who to write a message for next . Sometimes students jump in to help pick the honoree , and they ’ ll even write their own affirmations on the board . Cavazos is there during each surprise reveal to capture photos and celebrate on social media .
“ The Affirmation Station is a way to make the process of recognizing and affirming one another tangible ,” Cavazos said .
This project is a part of a greater effort to build relationships and campus culture . Through the Capturing Kids ’ Hearts program , MSHS leaders are developing practices that hopefully become a part of daily campus routines .
“ We strongly believe that Capturing Kids ’ Hearts is meant for the whole school community , and that includes our staff ,” Cavazos said . “ In an effort to recognize and affirm their hard work , we are using the Affirmation Station to generate authentic affirmations that the teachers are in control of .”
Overall , there are 12 Capturing Kids ’ Hearts campuses in MISD , and it ’ s a program that supports life readiness . This aligns with Vision 2030 , the district ’ s strategic plan to ensure students are life , career , and college ready .
“ Capturing Kids ’ Hearts teaches students how to work together as a team , build positive relationships , have conflict , how to build connectedness as a group , and how to self-manage and correct their behavior ,” said Mendy Gregory , director of social and emotional learning . “ It also teaches them how to celebrate each other and how to bring out the best in themselves and others .”
Phillips said the message written to her made her feel like she ’ s where she ’ s supposed to be .
“ Summit Love has been a motto on our campus since it opened in 2001 ,” Phillips said . “ I can say that my four years here have shown it is still going strong in 2023 .”
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