Positive Climate Committee
The Lake Middle School community is committed to continuously nurturing a positive climate. The entire school and larger community does a number of things to help facilitate a positive environment for students to learn, grow, and thrive. By committing to a positive climate, Lake staff, students and families support an environment where bullying is not tolerated.
On November 4, 2011, Lake Middle School staff and students heard a powerful message from Rachel’s Challenge. This student opportunity was made possible by funding from Lake’s PTA. Our speaker challenged students to take on 5 challenges, which we continue to strive to meet. Ever since this initial presentation, the Lake PTA has funded a building-wide presentation each year on Unity Day that supports a safe, inclusive and positive school environment for everyone.
Some specific activities at Lake that promote a positive climate include:
6th Grade:
- Camp 6 Transition Programming
- WEB "Where Everyone Belongs" Program
- Guest speakers
7th Grade:
- Presentations from the School Resource Officer
- Guest Speakers
- Homebase Team Building Curriculum and Events
8th Grade:
- Language Arts unit addressing identity and tolerance
- Literature circles with a focus on tolerance regarding the Holocaust
- WEB "Where Everyone Belongs" Leadership Program
Across All Grades:
- Implementation of Homebase Team Building Curriculum as an avenue to build community throughout the student population
- Digital Citizenship Curriculum
- A comprehensive Student Rights and Responsibilities policy that addresses bullying and harassment
- Curriculum that develops cultural awareness and sensitivity through world languages
- Use of literature circles to connect students interpersonally and intellectually
- Personal connections to literature
- Promote sharing of ideas with validation from peers and teachers
- Wide range of extracurricular activities to connect students based on shared interests
- Reflect our values in our physical space and décor
- Model a collaborative and supportive environment
- Model inclusion and ask students to do the same
- Demonstrate caring, listening, and encouraging
- Put our best efforts forward and validate one another
- Flexible curriculum and activities that intentionally respond to the current climate
- Community building activities in classes at the beginning of the year and throughout the year
- Emphasis on being a supportive, encouraging team member in music
- Student Literacy Council unifies the building around a literacy theme
The PCC would like to thank all the staff, students, families, and community members that already work hard to create a positive environment for our students. We will continue the work we already do and add new activities that foster a positive climate.