Dear Team DPS,
Building relationships is one of the most important skills we can teach our students. We know that when students have strong relationships, they’re more likely to succeed in school.
Imagine you’re a child whose family is about to move to a new country. You’ll have to learn a new language, make new friends and adjust to a new school and a new way of life. This kind of change can feel scary and unsettling to children, which is why schools like the Denver Green School work to make sure that all their students, no matter their background or experience, feel welcome, safe and supported.
“We start by building a relationship,” said Prudence Daniels, one of the lead partners of Denver Green School. “We have students from over 30 countries and they all come from different cultures and backgrounds. It’s absolutely critical that we understand each student as well as their family and culture.”
“We have newcomers to our culture who, like all kids, are trying to figure out who they are,” said Liz Dawson, lead English Language Acquisition teacher. “Sometimes they try on different behaviors that aren’t always positive.”
If a student starts acting in a way that gets in the way of learning, the Denver Green School team focuses on how to address the behavior without negatively impacting the relationship. The school gets interpreters for families who need them and works collaboratively with their behavior team, which includes the school’s social worker, student advisors and the lead partners.
Dawson encourages educators to have compassion for what students have experienced and to be willing to listen in a way that honors students’ needs. Denver Green School works to create a culture that not only supports traditionally underserved students, but also ensures all students are an active part of the school culture.
“When we talk about culturally responsive education, we mean both instruction and social-emotional education. The approach we take needs to be appropriate for each student and takes their background into account,” added Dawson.
Dawson also explained the importance of holding all students to high expectations in academics and behavior. “A student may have experienced trauma or a significant life change, and we must have compassion for that. At the same time, we would be letting students down if we don’t encourage them to be the best that they can be.”
Students get excited when they are part of a school culture that honors and engages them. When we encourage our students to reach higher and push themselves, they find more resourcefulness and strength than they ever could have imagined.
Warm Regards,
Susana
Pictured above: Denver Green School celebrates Spirit Week as part of their culture to build strong relationships across the school.
