Last April, I received an email from my principal’s association, MEMSPA, about submitting applications to present at their annual conference. When I saw this email, I immediately wanted to “tell our Stand Up story” to other leaders from across the state. At that point of the year, I had already seen so many instances of how our students were standing up for themselves and others. Our culture at CW was truly changing and I felt so proud of our students and staff.
After applying, it took a few months for a response, but we found out over the summer that we had been selected to present at the conference about Stand Up. Judy Bouley, our 6th grade counselor, who has been an inspiration and driving force behind this cultural change agreed to present with me. The conference was held the first week of December in Traverse City. Knowing we would be presenting at the conference, Judy and I became more intentional in looking for examples of our Stand Up culture being embedded with our students. There were many days when we would excitedly say to one another, “We need to share that in Traverse City!”
Countless examples came to light about the work our staff and students have done to create a culture where students Stand Up, Speak Out, and Stand With one another. During the presentation, we talked about how we knew Stand Up was making difference because we saw it in our students.
Instead of students coming to the office to report a problem, students were coming to tell us about a situation that happened and how they had stood up and that everything was ok! We saw it in how students would go up to a student at lunch who was sitting alone and invite them to be part of their table. We saw it when students would create Google presentations about Stand Up on their own and share them with us. We saw it with the countless emails sent by students from our Thanksgiving Stand Up Challenge. We saw it when students began to see themselves not has a 5th or 6th grade student at Central Woodlands, but rather has an important member of the Central Woodlands Family.
I have seen it in communications from our families. Our families come to us about how their children are Standing Up by sharing information with them about things happening at school.
The photo below is from a 5th grade classroom. Our 5th grade students have only been exposed to our Stand Up culture for a couple of months. However, I know they believe in Stand Up and this example affirms those beliefs.
While presenting, I became emotional because I am SO proud of our students and staff. I have never been part of a school culture that is as loving and caring as Central Woodlands. I felt like a proud dad as I shared our Stand Up story with principals from across the state.
Our students, staff, and families make this story possible.
David
