Good News from Generation Schools Network!

Elevating the Education Experience

Vision - All schools are vibrant, inclusive ecosystems that ensure every student thrives in school, work and life.

Mission - Co-create healthy school ecosystems by partnering with educators, students, families and communities to elevate the education experience.

GSN Supports Hawaii Charter Commission Schools!

GSN educators spent 8 days in Hawaii this month, providing professional learning and coaching to five Charter Schools on Oahu and the Big Island. The focus of this work, which will include two more onsite sessions, and five online Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings between February and June, is enriching practice to ensure the success of all students within the framework of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). The project was launched with an all-day workshop in Honolulu, with over 80 educators from across the Hawaiian Islands in attendance. Following the workshop, GSN coaches met with the Charter School Commission and then conducted site-visits across five schools, in four regions of the state.

GSN staff are invited to paint with students as they create a mural memorializing their community's resilience and optimism in the aftermath of earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

Many participants expressed their appreciation of the support and learning that was offered by GSN during the coaching, but the GSN coaches boarded their homebound flight with the distinct sense that they had been the recipients of the richer learning opportunity. What was shared, in terms of the unique culture of the communities and the schools, was a deep appreciation for connectedness: with one another, with the land and sea surrounding them, and with the language, traditions, and culture passed on from their elders and ancestors. These priorities were evident in nearly every conversation, and in every aspect of school design and practice. GSN is looking forward to continuing this project, and to further engagement with the educators, families, and children of Hawaii. We are honored to be a part of this work.

Knowledge, skills and practices that are an integral part of Hawaiian education:

- Ka mālama ʻāina - knowledge and stewardship of the land, ocean, and sky

- Ka nohona - knowledge and practice of Hawaiian culture and way of life

- Ka pilina - recognizing and honoring relationships and inter-connections

- Ka mahalo - displaying gratitude and appreciation

Creating Healthy Schools Grant Culminates With Community Presentations at West End School District!

Generation Schools Network was honored to help celebrate the culmination of a year's planning as part of West End School District's Creating Healthy Schools Grant on Thursday, February 14.

Elementary school students participate in a Jump Rope for Heart event as part of the Creating Healthy Schools grant.

The elementary school, located in Naturita, celebrated with a Jump Rope for Heart event and the middle and high school, located in Nucla, enjoyed a community presentation and resource fair. Thanks to funding from the Colorado Health Foundation, GSN staff member, CJ Roberts and AmeriCorps Vista, Maggie Mather, supported the district throughout the year. The work included a community planning process to identify the community's pressing health needs and creating a plan to address them. The plan's outcomes include: introduction of a backpack food program for weekends and holidays, a daily snack program across all grades to improve food security, creation of a frisbee golf course, a health and wellness course for 11 th and 12 th graders, and plans for a new school building that will include a Wellness Center. Stay tuned as West End School District works to implement their plan!

Are You Wondering How Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills Impact Achievement?

While academic success in core subjects has served as the platform by which the U.S. has tried to improve academic outcomes over the past decade, increasing understanding and acknowledgement is being given to the important parallel role of developing workforce and life skills. Now often referred to "soci al/emotional skills", these skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, organization, communication and leadership are proving to be critical drivers in academic and life-long success. As new research is reinforcing, these skills can be intentionally taught and practiced alongside and in conjunction with academic skills to improve educational outcomes. For more information on intentionally building social/emotional skills, please visit our Student Success Journey site.