Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! Best wishes for a 2022 that brings well-being, peace and joy to you, your families and your school communities.
Even in the midst of the uncertainty and disruption brought on by the continued challenges created by COVID-19, it has been truly inspiring to both witness and experience the unyielding dedication of school leaders, teachers and staff to the academic, emotional and social well-being of their students.
We also know that caring for the needs of the adults in our buildings is critical at all times, and especially now. Let's hope we are approaching a juncture where we can begin to see beyond the crisis mode of the last two years. By acknowledging the needs of the whole community much as we would the whole child, we can come together to recognize and nurture our reemerging identities as school communities who are no longer forced to focus primarily on surviving, but on the gifts of thriving.
OUR YEAR IN REVIEW
2021 was a year that continued to require creative adjustments, while also providing inspiring opportunities. Here are some highlights:
- Training Institutes: We held five remote, 6-day Training Institutes (Summer, Fall, Winter), our annual Training of Trainers in Restorative Practices in Schools, held at the end of April, and provided our second Training of Trainers in Restorative Mediation and Conferencing. All told, we served 125 participants from 30 schools, across 15 states. As of 2021, we have 67 participants who have completed the Training of Trainers program!
- District Initiatives: We continue our multi-year work with Flagstaff Unified School District in Arizona, as well as with Steamboat Springs and East Grand School Districts here in Colorado. Our work with Flagstaff included a major revision of their Student Code of Conduct, which will be implemented in the Fall.
- New Adventures: We continued our training and implementation services with the Dalton School (a small private K-12 campus) in NYC, and are hoping to soon begin work with the NYC Public Schools system this year.
- Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline: We are in our third year of supporting the Davenport, IA Juvenile Detention Center and Diversion Program's initiative, i(n response to a rampant increase in juvenile auto theft) which provides an RJ conference alternative to prosecution. The program is now partnering with multiple Districts in the Scott County Area to provide mediation and conferencing for Tier 2 and 3 discipline infractions. School-based Juvenile Court are trained co-facilitators, and the Detention Center program leaders are now licensed trainers.
- Staff Healing Support Circles: Recognizing the need for school communities to come together during these trying times of change and disruption, we had the opportunity to facilitate all-staff circles that provide a safe space to process feelings and express needs. Using Restorative Practices to address adult issues is such an important part of authentic implementation and it really teaches what RP is all about in a visceral way.
CIRCLE KEEPING TIPS AND TRICKS
Our December site visits to 13 schools in Flagstaff, AZ provided an exciting opportunity to observe and engage with teachers and Administrators across the spectrum of Restorative Practices. Here are some circle keeping tips and tricks we came away with:
- Include students in creating/ choosing circle centerpieces and start circles with a quote or value, a bell or chime, or a mindful moment
- Appreciation and Celebration circles are especially helpful during times of extreme/ extended stress for both students and staff
- Give students prompts in advance for deeper topics or addressing issues, including writing prep time to prepare and/ or provide 15 seconds or so of think time with eyes closed
- Remove empty "ghost chairs" and try to move furniture out of the center of the circle
- Evaluate your circle prompts through a cultural and socio-economic responsivity lens
- Utilize circles to gather students knowledge/ understanding of topics/ content before and after a teaching segment
- Include students in developing circle norms and post them in the classroom to encourage shared accountability
- Use circle time as a sacred space to be present with yourself and others
2022 UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
1) ADVANCED TRAINING INSTITUTE (3 Saturdays)
In its second year, our Advanced Training Institute allows participants to deepen their knowledge and skills. We're holding it on three consecutive Saturdays(on Zoom) from 8:30am-3pm MST. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn and dialogue with other passionate practitioners in the field.
- Sat. Feb 19th (Restorative Practices in Schools)
- Sat. Feb 26th (Restorative Mediation & Conferencing)
- Sat. Mar 5 (Active Implementation & Evaluation)
Building a restorative culture often takes years and happens through steady training, planning and support. This training is for those who have already attended our training or another one of similar content.
We'd love to have you or someone from your school district join us for all or part of it!
For Fees and to Register click HERE.
(To download the 2022 flyer, click here: Advanced Training RPS Flyer 2022)
2) LIMITED ENROLLMENT WINTER INSTITUTE (4 days)
February 22-23 (Intro to RPS)
February 28-March 1 (Restorative Mediation & Conferencing)
(Call or email for more information)
3) TRAINING OF TRAINERS (3 days)
Become a Licensed Restorative Solutions Trainer in Restorative Practices for Schools
April 28 - 30 (on Zoom)
For Fees and to Register click HERE
(To download the 2022 flyer, click here: RS ToT Flyer 2022)
4) SUMMER INSTITUTE (6 days)
June 6 - 14
(For all you early planners!)
QUARTERLY ZOOM PRACTITIONER CALLS
Due the ongoing challenges and demands brought on by the impacts of COVID, we have decided to postpone our quarterly free practitioner calls until later in the Spring semester. We'll keep you posted!
2022 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CONFERENCE
The NACRJ is hosting its 8th National Conference in Chicago from July 7-9.This biannual conference (last held in Denver in 2019) is one not to miss! We submitted two presentation proposals for the conference:1) District-Wide Implementation from Exploration to Sustainability: How Restorative Practices is Being Implemented in Three Distinct School Districts, and 2) Training of Trainers: Using it Wisely to Build Sustainability. Hope to see you there!
RECOMMENDED READING FOR OUR TIMES
Much of the current research on key factors which influence learning reveals the undeniable role of our own and our student's capacities to recognize and express our feelings. This is especially critical when the stress of circumstances primarily outside of our control can be so overwhelming that we become shut down and isolated, further inhibiting our capacity to both give and receive the emotional human connection we so desperately need. Here are a few books that are helpful in understanding and celebrating the importance of emotions in our bodies, hearts and minds:
Atlas of the Heart : Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of the Human Experience, by Brene' Brown, PhD, MSW
Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive by Marc Brackett. PhD
What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing by Bruce Perry, M.D., PhD, and Oprah Winfrey
and just for fun and just as important:
If You Don't Feed the The Teachers, They Eat the Students: Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers, by Neila A.Connors
You continue to be in our hearts and minds and we encourage you to reach out with any needs you may have for support or resources during this time of tumultuous change and challenges. Connecting with you is what makes this work so deeply worthwhile and rewarding. We welcome your stories as you continue to forge your path with the applied values and principles of Restorative Practices.
With care,
Catherine Childs, Principal Randy Compton, President
cchilds@restorativesolutions.us rcompton@restorativesolutions.us
303-579-5686 303-859-4419
|
