South Middle Family,
One of my goals this year is to regularly spend time listening to students so I can better understand their needs and experiences. Visiting with students in classes, hallways, and in the cafeteria gives me a good sense of where students are on a daily basis, but I will also be chartering a new student group I’m calling The Select Panel to ensure students know their voices matter and matter strategically.
The SMS Select Panel is a group chosen each month from the student body, selected for as diverse a representation of views and experiences as possible. It is not an honors group nor a remedial group, it is indeed to sample widely and change each month.
Students will meet in the Principal's Conference Room during Advisory for pizza and drinks with a brief agenda aimed at gathering their unique perspectives on how it feels to be a student at South. Parents will be notified in advance of their student's selection. Participation is entirely optional.
The hope for this group is to better promote a sense of belonging and student ownership in their school. I am excited that this initiative will help young students of all backgrounds develop a sense of membership in our school community. This group's ideas, dreams, and recommendations will be shared with the staff each month.