"Where do we even start?"
At AWSL, we have received this question from buildings throughout the state as they enter the fall in a myriad of different learning environments.
Creating a culture and engaging the school community has been woven into student activity programs for years. Kick-off assemblies, freshman orientation, homecoming, fundraisers, and creating a sense of belonging amongst students and adults have created unique opportunities across the board for schools.
Finding a starting place is often the most challenging task. As it is easy to begin a thought process of, "we can't do this... we can't do that.." due to our current environmental challenges.
I believe 2020 is the year where we can live in a world where "what if..." becomes a starting place for optimism, hope, and opportunity!
The Association of Washington Student Leaders has created a tool to help buildings organize and start the process of creating:
Shift - Stay - Shelve - Start.
Shift: What are the things that you can continue to do with some slight modifications and adjustments?
Stay: What are the non-negotiables and are important to your building and, thus, need to stay as they are?
Shelve: What can be put on the back burner due to current environmental conditions and environments?
Start: What can you start doing within the current conditions and environments?
As we recontextualize challenges for opportunities, we can begin to organize our thoughts, continue investing in creating a culture, and engage the community.