Year 2- 2020-2021: Trauma Informed Blended School

Self- Expression & Vulnerability

My second year, I was tasked to serve a building where majority of the stakeholders were at home while the rest in person in the building. We battled fear in-person, while empowering those at home to over come fear to go outside. In the midst of all of that, I was able to foster a safe space for the PS 287 family that focused on feelings that matter. This was the first year imlementing the Trauma Informed Plan that I submitted to Principal Bishop.

The video below displays an overview of the growth that we made as a school community in being aware of our feelings, the trauma and impact covid had on us, but also how we coped. I provided several opportunities and spaces for PS 287 community members to express their feelings, that provided access to healing; via Circle Time, therapeutics groups, enrichment groups and town hall.

EVIDENCE OF SEL GROWTH FROM SEPTEMBER -MAY 2020-2021 SY

First DAY of SCHOOL

I was able to cultivate joy and positivity by inviting a huge bear to greet our students. The goal was to reduce anxiety returning to the building after being home for several months.

Superintendent Samuels was able to stop by and join our expression of joy and postivity.

Student Government A Elections 2020

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My second year as Student Government Advisor, provided students a real life election experience. Students were able to recognize the importance of Civic engagement through the experiential experience of a virtual mock election day. Candidates had platforms that they shared. There were speeches and debates and finally voting day. Students who had registered to vote were able to select the candidates of their choice. Students, staff and parents were invested in this blended Election experience.

Blended Circle Time

I was able to foster community among students through blended restorative groups for students at home and in-person.

Missing My PArent Group

I was able to coordinate specialized therapeutic groups to address student needs. One of them supported students who had a parent missing from their life due to foster care, incarceration or other social barriers. These groups were blended to include student learning at home and in the school building.

BUILDING CAPACITY: SOCIAL WORK INTERNS

Very quickly, I recognized the need for SEL support was great, especially after Covid, therefore she collaborated with her Alma-mater LIU Brooklyn to provide Social Work Interns to provide access to additional at-risk support to our students.

Fall 2020 HighLights

This video demonstrates the high moments of the fall semester where I was able to coordinate opportunities for students and staff to bond, express themselves authentically and create an inclusive community for those at home and in school. This displays the circle time structure of

Ice Breaker |Weather Check|Shout Outs|SEL Message |A Word From Principal Bishop ( added for town hall only).

You will also find moments from our Breast Cancer Awareness Event, where I collaborated with the Parent Coordinator to support an inspiring virtual event using the platform and structure I created for Town Hall.

You will also see our 2020 Candidate speeches from students who were at home and coming in the building. As well as a powerful video montage on the importance of voting. This was meant to create a parallel experience to the real world as the 2020 presidential election had our nation at the edge of our seats. I was able to coordinate parents, student and staff to participate in spreading the message "VOTE"!

Family Therapy

AF was a student I met at recess. She was crying in the school yard. This started a relationship not only with AF, but the beginning of implementing Family Therapy in schools. AF shared many family conflicts that were impacting her focus in school as well as her little sister, AAF.

After making contact with AF's mom, mom and I agreed that counseling would be best. Unfortunately, mom was unable to form a therapeutic alliance with the therapists that I referred her to.

This led to AF's at-risk session becoming blended family sessions, to support the family in mediating the conflicts they were facing. See screenshots of the session notes taken for Family Therapy.

THE PS 287 ISTRONG NETWORK

While implementing a trauma informed school, I searched for various, innovative way to provide students with enrichment opportunities. Considering the weight and tramatic experiences that had been taking place; death, domestic violence in homes, black lives matter movement, miseducation of students and much more, I prioritized creating blended spaces for students to release and escape from negative circumstances. The most notable space that I created during this school year was the PS 287 ISTRONG MORNING SHOW!

This show was a platform made for the PS 287 community by the PS 287 community with me as the producer, content creator and host. Students were able to come on and teach the school community about games and activities that were important to them. What started off as just one show, turned into a miniture network of different shows as students were inspired to showcase their different ideas and presented them to me to produce. Each show contributed to community building, human connectedness and socio-emotional learning. Below I have displayed the most popular ISTRONG Show segments.

NOTABLE ISTRONG EPISODES

The ISTRONG Survey was the first show that was inspired by students struggling with camera expectations during remote learning.

There was a Fortnite phenomenon that adults struggled to understand. However, we were able to uncover what the game is about with the help of two of our 5th grade student experts.

My PS 287 Story segment allowed us to learn about the people who are apart of the PS 287 family. This includes present and past students and staff members. Each guest shared their personal story on how PS 287 made a positive impact on their life journey.

PS 287 Masked Talents was a show segment that was propose by one of our 5th grade students who was passionate about the community showcasing secret talents that students and staff had by following the Masked Singer show as a template.

FP and TP were two students who lost their father to COvid during the blended school year. They used Town Hall as support to safely share updates about their dad and how they felt about it. When Dad passed away they volunteered to share their PS 287 Story.

RK was a student who struggled with authority, often came to school unkept as she took on the responsibility to look after her younger sisters first. During blended year, RK remained engaged in online learning and whole class restorative circles. Her investment in a scavenger hunt game inspired this episode of the Istrong Morning Show.

We had been doing so well at keeping our community together. The trauma informed plan seemed to be working, town hall has been effective so much so that Principal Bishop decided to share the work that we were doing via the PS 287 Istrong Morning Show. This tour among other schoolwide events, led to an influx of student enrollment the following school year.

DOCUMENTING TRAUMA INFORMED WORK

PS 287 Parent Call Log Here

Parent Call LoG

The picture displays a screenshot summary of the number of calls made regarding attendance on specific dated each month since Fall 2020. We currently still use this form to document parent phone calls primarily regarding attendance. However, we have logged any parent contact in this form as a centralized method to track parent calls to hold both staff and parents accountable.

This picture reveals how many phone calls were made to parents regarding attendance by grade level. From this data we can say that Kindergarten receives the most parent phone calls regarding attendance.

SEL INDIVIDUAL & GROUP NOTES Here

Considering that I was new to the DOE as a Social Worker, I was unaware of the best way to document at-risk work that has been laid out in the Trauma Informed Plan. However, I understand the importance of documentation and therefore created the SEL Form for all things socio-emotional learning related can be documented in one central location. The form noted categories of support on every level as discussed int he Trauma Informed Plan.

In the image below, you can see a screenshot of how this form is still used currently to note individual, group, interventions and ACS contact etc. You can also see the where the most SEL support goes to. Circle Time is the most reported trauma informed practice from SY 2020-2021 to present. The second highest is classroom and teacher interventions, moments where myself or my social work team of interns need to support a teacher in the classroom.

Below you will see a snapshot of the notes that were actually written through the form during the 2020-2021 School Year. The first column displays the staff member who faciliated the SEL session. The second column displays the topic discussed in the session and the last column is the note that summarizes the the entire session.

SUPPORT SCHOOL WIDE INITIATIVES

ED CARTER DAy

I collaborated with the Parent Coordinator, a native of the Fort Greene Community herself. We were able to honor a distinguished community leader of Fort Greene who has left an imprint on our families to this day. I specifically coordinated an artist to paint a mural with students to honor Ed Carter as well as put together a tribute video for the event. Ed Carters children and grand children attended to accept the honor from Principal Bishop.

ART CLUB ART GALLERY

SPECIAL SCHOOL WIDE TOWN HALLS

I coordinated schoolwide virtual events such as Book Talks with authors to promote a love for reading, guest panelist to to talk about grieving loss and other topics throughout the school year. See two examples of this below.

Overcoming COVID TOGETHER PANEL

LIVE Author

READ ALOUd

college & Career Week 2021

Ms. Muschett coodinated the 2nd Virtual College and Career Week. Above is the town hall concluding the week where students reflect on their experience. Below are examples of a few of the events that took place during that week.

Day In The Life OF A CONtractor

Vincent's Construction provided our students with insight on a day in his shoes as the owner of a contracting & construction business. Mr. Muschett, was able to engage our students in a live Q &A.

A CHAT WITH AIRPLANE ENGINEERS

Kirei Watson, an Engineer at Collin's Aerospace was able to bring her collegques in for a conversation on Aviation and Engineering. Students were able to learn the different types of roles needed to ensure that places are built and carry passengers safely.

Entreprenuership Symposium BreakOut Room

During the Entreprenuership Symposium various business owners were able to engage students in breakout rooms about their business and what they would need to start a business. In this room Content Creator and Project/ Event Consultant, was able to explain to our students how they can turn their passion into and income.

EVIDENCE OF SCHOOL-WIDE EVENTS COORDINATED By

Ms. MUSCHETT in Year 2

I compiled a highlight of all the school-wide events that she coordinated or supported through out the entire school year.

D13 CEC TOWN HALL

While support PS 287 during this impactful year, I also stepped up to support District 13's Monthly Town Halls based on the 5 R's to developing an ANTI-Racist District. My role was to facilitate breakout room discussions on the topics presented during the whole group portion of the Town Hall. This opportunity allowed me to refresh on Restorative Justice principles along with other Equity Building concepts. Additionally, I was able to collaborate with other social workers, counselors and teachers in District 13, as well as an opportunity to work with our current Superintendent Meghan Dunn, who was the Deputy Superintendent at this time.

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