Year 1 2019-2020: Developing A Positive Culture

Student Government

SGA's SLIME SALE FUNDRAISER

To promote leadership and student voice, I was tasked to coordinate and implement the first Student Government Association and PS 287. Students were engaged in the work and committed to their roles to make their school a better place. SGA Leaders were provided roles during our Town Hall and in the school community. They coordinated a slime sale to raise funds for a school trip for student who were behaving. Students raised $49 towards their cause.

First Honor Roll

One of my first projects was to implement an Honor Roll System. For the first time students at PS 287 were acknowledged and celebrated for their academic excellence. This shifted a mindset in the building that students at 287 have what it takes to achieve scholarship. Parents were able to witness the success of their child and the 4 students who made it that year were able to feel special and know that there academic and behaviorally excellence mattered. Students were presented with certificates at the celebratory Dinner.

The Image to the left is a document I created to outline the Honor Roll Criteria. After some research on honor societies, I was able to curate, fair and clear guidelines that address both academic skills, but also character and responsibility.

INDIVIDUAL STUDENT IMPACT

Take note of how these kindergarten students grow over the course of the 4 years as I implement interventions to support their socio-emotional needs.

RM

Kindergarten RM was desperate for attention and validation for his amazing academic ability. However, the praise from his behavior tracker became irrelevant when he had to grieve the loss of his dad to the prison system.

MF

Kindergarten MF was passionate about fairness. After being taken away from his mother in a police car, MF just wanted to feel love and acceptance. Struggling with which side he would get the most benefit; rule breaking or rule following?

VJ

Kindergarten VJ was hyperactive, attention seeking, growing up separated from his mom, VJ craved a consistent, motherly nurturing spirit. As well as a hunger for social acceptance from his peers.

behavior tracker Implementation

During year 1 there were a few male students who were struggling in school due to their environment at home. One student is in foster care system, one has a father who is incarcerated and the other is being raised by a young single father. These three students had one thing in common; missing a parent whom they love. Very quickly, I placed these students on a Behavior Tracker. This is a tool to monitor student behavior in a clear, specific way and reward students for achieving the desired behaviors laid out on the tracker.

I found it most effective when I partner with students in determining the rules and expectations around the tracker and providing them with daily and weekly goals to earn Dojo points or a special gift that is important to the student. The tracker method supports the teacher in restoring relationship with the student since their challenged to look for positive behaviors and document. This method and template has been used to support staff to this day. Below you will find samples of behavior trackers implemented for the above mentioned students.

Evidence of

RM's Behavior IMprovement

2nd Week RM was placed on a Tracker.

One month of RM on a Behavior tracker.

Evidence of Vj's Behavior Improvement

Image at the top is VJ's first week on a behavior tracker.

Image at the bottom is VJ's tracker a month after implementing.

Evidence of MF's Behavior Improvement

The first image is the firs week that MF was placed on a tracker after, getting into a fight.

The image below is MF's tracker two months later.

Mental Health First Aid Training @ PS 287

I recognized early in her first year, that the staff was not aware of mental wellness and how to identify and approach signs of mental distress in themselves or their students. To address this gap, I coordinated a Mental Health First Aid training with THRIVE NYC, The Life Equip Group and Resilient Young Minds Inc. The training was not exclusive to staff. Community members from District 13 and nearby, were also able to register and engage in the training to foster mental health competent community. Participants were provided with a light breakfast sponsored by the Life Equip Group, workbook, supplemental materials provided by THRIVE NYC and a networking lunch that was sponsored by Resilient Young Minds Inc. as well as childcare support for parents who needed childcare to attend.

Town HAll

Not only did I tackle developing a positive school culture through the establishment of Town Hall, but I remained committed to the challenge, by maintaining this new concept through a pandemic by making it a virtual experience, that was able to hold our community together during one of the most difficult times in our lives to date. This allowed all stakeholders (students, staff, families) to access human connectedness during one of the most isolating moments of our world.

Log On PS287.mp4

LOG On! CampAign! Gearing Up For Remote learning!

As we were all shocked by the news in March 2020, I had no idea what a remote social worker should look like. However, creating a space that promotes positivity and love was the utmost priority. I understood that this was a scary and confusing time. One way she tried to maintain the positive energy and provide relief of the fear of the times, I, wrote the Log-On song and recorded the video to support our students, staff and families. I was able to collaborate with Mr. F ( T.A) who supported me in recording the song in his personal studio as well as editing the music video. Prinicpal Bishop also was in support of this campaign and was committed to being a model of spreading love and positivity during a scary time for everyone.

Most Notable Virtual Town HAlls

Spring 2020

Dress Like Your Favorite Teacher

I Matter Town Hall

kik-trok-wbr (2020-05-07 at 06:25 GMT-7)

Dress Like Your Favorite Teacher Town Hall allowed the PS 287 community to reflect on the educators in their lives that have made a positive impression on them while also, appreciating the teachers we currently have.

P.S. 287 Town Hall (2020-06-11 at 06:24 GMT-7)

I Matter Town Hall allowed the community to come together and process the horrific circumstances around police brutality. This elevated social awareness, cultural competency and human connectedness.

First Virtual College & Career Week

Timestampe 4:47-10:22

I was tasked to coordinate the first College and Career Week as PS 287 in the middle of a pandemic! Fortunately, with the support of the Speech Provider, Ms. B and the foundation that was laid with Town Hall, it made the transition to hold virtual programming for that week less arduous than it sounds.

The video above highlights the development of Town Hall from March to May, but also, includes a recap video of the College and Career week. We had panelists from College students to quality professionals in the areas of fire safety, essential workers, animal health, entreprenuership and engineering. Students, parents and even staff members were engaged in the conversations by asking thoughtful questions. Most importantly, these sessions were each facilitated by the current student government leaders.

Trauma Informed SCHOOL Proposal

Upon assessing the needs of the student, staff and parent community at the conclusion of year 1, Ms. Muschett recognized that majority of the issues our stakeholders were grappling with were related to trauma. Trauma at home, trauma in the community and even trauma within the walls of the school building. Not to mention, the new global trauma we were all facing, COVID-19. Therefore, Ms. Muschett thought it would be best for the PS 287 to take a Trauma Informed Approach to support and meet the needs of our ISTRONG Family. For the remainder of this portfolio, you will find how, Ms. Muschett has rolled out her trauma informed plan over the course of 3 years.

Ms. Muschett's Trauma Informed Plan HERE

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