Creating a Vision for a Caring School Community Note: This session provides a starting point for creating a shared vision if none exists or if it hasn’t been discussed by the staff in a long time. The session ends with the next step of the CSC Leadership Team drafting a vision and bringing that back to the staff in a subsequent meeting (separate module for this second meeting). Materials Pen and paper for every participant Chart paper and markers Time Needed: 30 minutes _______________________________________________________________________________ SLIDE: Title Slide 1 minute Welcome the participants. Explain that having a shared vision around school culture and community is crucial to ensure that everyone understands the importance of school community and where the school is headed. Let the the participants know that this session will focus on developing this shared vision around the culture of the school. Explain that participants will work with partners. Have each participant identify a partner to work with during this session. Establish a signal (such as a raised hand) for coming back together at the end of partner work.

Visualize SLIDE: Visualization 4 minutes Explain to staff that as you continue to build a caring community as a school this year, it’s helpful to have a shared vision of what you’re trying to accomplish Share that today you’ll be thinking together about what we want our school to look like in 5 years. Take them through the following visualization. You might modify this to meet your staff’s needs. This is to help you visualize what is possible in terms of school culture and climate. As I read this, think about what you are seeing. You’ll have a chance to write in a moment. The important thing is that you can “see” into the future and be able to describe this to a partner. Feel free to close your eyes if that is how you visualize best.   Imagine that it is five years from now and your school is well on its way to realizing its vision of being a caring community focused on the whole child and every child. You have spent the past few years engaging many others in building this community. What are your feelings and thoughts as you are coming into work this morning? What are you seeing as you enter the building? You listen closely to what people are saying and how they are responding to one another. What do you notice about teachers’ or other staffs’ conversations? What do you notice about interactions with parents? Interactions among students of different ages? It is now mid-morning and students are in their classrooms – What do you see and hear as you do a walk through of the school? How are students behaving? How are teachers behaving? What is happening in the classrooms? The morning recess is in full swing. As you walk around the yard describe what you are seeing and hearing from the children as well as the adults?

Activity Write your future vision in the present tense. Try not to use comparative terms such as “more” or “less.” If it helps you, use the prompts “I envision” or “I see” or “I hear.” SLIDE: Activity 5 minutes Have staff individually write their future vision in the present tense based on what they just envisioned. Suggest that they not to use comparative terms such as more or less. If it helps, they can use the prompts “I envision,” or “I see,” or “I hear.” Scan the room; when you see that most participants have stopped writing, signal for attention. Transition to the next slide by letting them know that they will get a chance to share their thoughts.

Share Share your school vision with a partner and listen to their vision. What ideas or themes are common in your visions? Make note of these SLIDE: Share 3-5 minutes Have the participants share what they have written with a partner and note what is common about their two visions. Let them know that they’ll have about 3-5 minutes. Scan the room; when most partners have finished talking, signal for their attention.

What ideas or themes were common about in your visions? Chart Vision Ideas What ideas or themes were common about in your visions? SLIDE: Discussion 10 minutes Ask partners to share with the whole group elements they discussed that are similar. Chart these. You might do a “whip-around” where each pair shares one thing quickly, the idea is charted, and the next pair shares. You could have two people alternate charting every other comment to save time. Ask participants to only share new ideas. Discuss the ideas on the chart—are there any that are redundant or elicit feelings or thought? Can any be combined?

What’s Most Important? Use your three “sticks” to highlight which idea(s) are most important for you to see in the shared cultural vision. SLIDE: What’s Most Important? 5 minutes Let each staff members know that they have three “sticks” or tally marks. Ask them to vote by putting her sticks on the chart paper - one stick next to each of three ideas, all three sticks next to one idea, or two sticks next to one idea and one stick next to another Once all the sticks have been placed, add the number of sticks next to each idea and find the top three or four ideas with the most sticks.

Next Steps CSC Leadership Team will draft a common vision Review as a staff within next month and revise Publish final version SLIDE: Next Steps 1 minute Share with the group that the CSC Leadership Team will take the charted elements and develop a draft vision statement, keeping these main ideas central in the crafting. Let them know that the CSC Leadership Team will share the draft vision for feedback after it is complete. [See Finalizing a Vision session to complete the vision setting process]

Reflection What’s one thing you will continue to think about after today’s meeting? Share with a partner. SLIDE: Reflection 1 minute Read the question. After a little wait time, have the participants turn and share with a partner. Ask for a few volunteers to share. Close meeting.