Posted by Kristy Lundstrom, Head of Middle School on December 14, 2020

During this quarter, Middle School faculty and students have been focused on one specific value from our Character Compass - RESPONSIBILITY. I shared a video message introducing this value with my students. In the video, I encouraged students to think about how they can act responsibly in the following areas:

• their own academic progress
• health and safety protocols
• as a member of an inclusive community (both face-to-face and online)
• as a steward of our environment

In addition, students were reminded that true character shows up when you do the right thing even when no one is watching. Throughout this quarter, we have had structured conversations to draw attention to expected behaviors, and we continue to focus on how our individual actions impact others. Here are a few examples of the ways we have worked with this theme.

Students were asked to reflect on their mid-term reports. With specific questions to guide them, students were asked to think about strengths and areas for improvement. They were asked to look for specific examples of when they had shown grit, resilience, and growth. Then, they were asked to share this with their advisor. Following that conversation, students set personal goals for the next month.

In vocal music this month, students demonstrated responsibility by recording their virtual choir performances at home and handing them in by the deadline. If students were late or forgot, the editor would not meet his deadline and the performance would not go on as planned. In OnStage class, students were given the responsibility of memorizing their lines for two person scenes. If one person did not do their work, then their partner would go down with the ship during the performance! 

“As a performer myself, I have to be prepared for auditions, learn my own lines, and always show up on time for performances. Without every person present, the show cannot go on!”

-Mrs. Eldridge (Vocal/Drama teacher)

In our Farm-to-Fork classes,  we practice and teach a french phrase used in the culinary world that teaches one how to be disciplined, to be ready, to be efficient, and how one organizes their mind, body and actions in what they do; a great LifeReady skill!   

“Mise en Place”-  a French culinary phrase which means "putting in place" or "everything in its place."  

This was taught the very first day to Farm-to-Fork classes and continues to be the focus point of not just our culinary lessons but farm lessons and work as well. The purpose of mise en place is to allow the chef to cook in the most efficient way and teach them responsible techniques for how their cooking tools, ingredients, and work station is set up. One example of this is that for every culinary class, Chef Staley sends an announcement to the students regarding the mise en place that is needed before the class starts. The students are responsible for gathering all items and setting up their work stations. They are then asked to show their workspace in the way we have been teaching them to be the most efficient in the task: having the least amount of body crossover,  being neat and organized, and keeping the space clean. At the end, whether cooking, farming, doing math, writing recipes, or doing chores, all tools and materials should go back the way they found them.

This LifeReady skill, “Mise en Place,” although a cooking phrase, can be applied to students’ everyday tasks, teaching responsibility.

Our librarians shared books about responsibility:

And many more suggestions here>>

In addition, all Middle School students have also studied cyberbullying and inclusion. We are thinking about what is our individual  and collective responsibility to create an inclusive environment, both online and face-to-face.

In our cyberbullying conversations, we addressed key terms:

Bully: The person who is doing the bullying. 

Bullying: Unwanted and aggressive verbal, social, or physical behavior towards another.

Bystander: Someone who sees a bullying or cyberbullying situation, but doesn’?t do anything to stop it 

Cyberbullying: Using digital devices, sites, and apps to intimidate, harm, and upset someone. 

Empathy: To imagine the feelings that someone else is experiencing. 

Target: The person who is on the receiving end of the bullying. 

Upstander: A person who supports and stands up for someone else. 

And we watched this video:  What is cyberbullying? 

In our inclusion discussions, each student has been charged with finding one word, image, or drawing to illustrate how they see their responsibility. One student shared this image:

She stated that “the birds are of different colors and shapes but have so much in common and help each other.”  

There are many other examples as well.  And quite often the most powerful learning takes place in informal, unscripted moments when students and teachers are together. As with all character development, the conversation continues.