1. Old Saybrook Public Schools
Old Saybrook Middle School
Climate Plan
November 8, 2016

2. Goals / Rationale:
Climate survey results yielded two focus areas and several areas that require continued monitoring.
Focus Areas:
I have seen students being physically hurt at school more than once by other students (ex. pushed, slapped or beaten up)
Threats (verbal, physical) by students are rare

3. Connections to the Strategic Plan:
Action Plan #3 – Proactive and flexible plans that respond to changing demographics
Step 13 – Create and implement shared beliefs and systems that support students’ social and emotional well-being, improve school climates and support ongoing growth in relationships.
Step 14 – Review and identify educational practices that contribute to student mental health concerns; change adverse practices so as to minimize mental health issues.
Step 16 – Provide ongoing responsive training for all staff to address current student needs, ensuring that responsiveness is driven by observation and knowledge of students by trained staff so that early interventions can be accomplished.
Step 17 – Build acceptance and support amongst parties for opportunities for children to develop conflict resolution, resiliency, coping and independence skills.

4. Connection to Building Goals:
Stakeholder Goal:
Stakeholders will feel that over the course of the school year, OSMS will strengthen the safe and positive school climate by addressing and educating our stakeholders on identified SSC targeted areas as measured through the safe school climate surveys. This process will be aligned to our goal of personalized learning and student learning outcomes based on their own reflection and understanding related to the safe school climate

5. Statistics/Data: 7.29% 28.88% 34.04% 29.79%
Question 8: I have seen students being physically hurt at school more than once by other students (for example, pushed, slapped, or beaten up).
7.29%
28.88%
34.04%
29.79%
Question 9: Threats (verbal, physical) by students against one another are rare.
22.19%
41.03%
23.10%
13.68%

6. -Challenges: Successes:
Develop an understanding of student perspective and interpretation of the safe school climate questions identified as targeted areas.
Participation in an on-going survey to progress monitor the success of the goal over the course of the academic year.
Successes:
Initial PRIDE lesson which included conversations about the interpretation of the question.
Educated the students on the targeted areas through ongoing PRIDE lessons to educate students on result of the survey and targeted areas.
Emphasis on adult role modeling
Student, parent, teacher, para educator and SRO participation on the Safe School Climate Committee.-

7. Next Steps:
Climate team to develop a PR plan for parents and students so they will be able to discuss and articulate the needs for the targeted areas.
Continued PD on culture of caring, prevention of unkind behaviors and further education addressing targeted areas – questions 8 and 9.
Continue to develop PRIDE lessons that solicit input from all grade levels that are developmentally appropriate and meaningful.
Regularly revisit the SSC plan with the SSC committee to review effectiveness of current systems.