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BELONGING
Valencia High School recently conducted a study that measured the level of contentedness/belonging among our students. Over 1500 ninth through eleventh graders responded. We asked students how they connected to VHS. What programs, arts, activities, athletics, clubs, and staff that made them feel like our school was the place where they belonged. What we found was nothing short of amazing. Our staff works tirelessly and purposefully to seek out opportunities that support our diverse population of learners. 96% of students reported a connection on one or more levels according to the survey - fostering a deep feeling of belonging within each individual student.
Many times, the disconnectedness, misbehavior, or lack of effort we observe at school are manifestations or byproducts of things beyond our control. As educators, we understand our limitations and value the contributions made by our parents and community members, and although we know we can’t control the home environment of every student or immediately get every student to open up enough to understand them better, we CAN control their experience at Valencia every day. I watch my Tiger Colleagues with pride, as we truly have the power to shape lives from the moment we step on campus.
Here at VHS, we are shaping lives with integrity and genuine care. When looking at this survey, our teachers didn't smugly rest on our laurels, instead it was interesting to watch little pockets of discussion start when the results were shared at one of our full staff meetings - while we were initially brimming with pride, the hum of happy conversation quickly switched to efficient/problem-solving mode as every staff member saw that 96% and immediately began brainstorming ways to intentionally seek out this last 4% to offer support, guidance, and love. It didn't take a formal plan or a mandate from the district to inspire our teachers to continue to cultivate a welcoming, positive learning environment where students are safe, accepted, wanted, and cared for by our Tiger Family.
I don't know if every student knew there was a teacher quietly organizing a hugely successful fundraiser to provide Christmas items for a family whose home burned down; another who recently organized support for a family in desperate need - decimated by a massive medical crisis; the office staff organizing and wrapping gifts after hours behind the attendance desk to provide to families in need; teachers dedicating large chunks of vacation and personal time to helping students; or even just the offer to give a ride home to a student and her mother from a kind administrator after a School Site Board Meeting. A few times a year, the staff bands together to throw the students an entirely free pancake breakfast; Academic Competition Team Coaches giving up their lunches and weekends to train and travel with teams; Athletic Coaches devote countless hours to team unity and sportsmanship - so that even a loss can be a lesson; Teachers offering extra weekend Test Prep sessions happily compete with the ever-practicing percussion section of our acclaimed Performing Groups; and so many, MANY more examples that truly foster a genuine sense of belonging.
We truly believe that we increase the potential for students to graduate when they BELONG to a part of something, anything on campus. That connection inspires more connections, increased positive attitudes, and shared goals of student success. There are many manifestations of this notion – but this is the underlying motivation for our selecting the topic “Belonging” – because it means so many things to everyone, which means the possibilities for ideas are endless! And because Valencia High School is a rich tapestry of students who vary in heritage, socioeconomic status, and religion, but who, even more importantly, create an environment of intellectual diversity based on the three pillars of thought the school has been looking to for the past 80 years - PRIDE, TRADITION, & EXCELLENCE - woven together with BELONGING.
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