Hello Fredonia School Community,
We hope everyone had a great holiday and Happy New Year.
As mentioned in our last update, we continue to work hard within the district to create a sense of belonging amongst all students and adults. Again, the word belonging can be defined as a sense of being part of something larger than yourself or feeling like you are an important member of a group.
Being a part of an accepting community allows us to feel a greater connection to those around us. When we have the support of others and are not alone, we become more resilient, and are able to become our greatest selves.
Within this conversation, it is helpful to have working definitions of terms that are important to this discussion. Some of these words include:
• Diversity: Individual traits and differences which directly impact student experience.
• Equity: The promotion of access, opportunity, and advancement of all individuals to identify and eliminate conditions that prevent the ability of all students to reach their full potential.
• Inclusivity: Providing equal access to opportunities and resources for students who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or mental disabilities or those who belong to a minority group.
When beginning to open up a dialogue about belonging, most districts start with some basic questions. We are in the process of beginning to assess our current state before moving forward to potential action steps. Some questions we are asking include the following:
• What do we know about our students’ lives outside of school?
• What do we know about the challenges and/or barriers our students experience?
• Does everyone have equal access to the educational programs we offer?
• Which students participate in which programs?
By learning more about where we stand, we hope to enhance our sense of belonging across the district which is crucial to our happiness, mental well-being, physical health, and even longevity. It gives everyone a sense of purpose and meaning. Research has shown that loss of belonging has been associated with stress, illness, and depression.
We look forward to working together in relation to these concepts and welcome the entire school community to be active participants in our culture of belonging at FCSD.
Please watch for additional information in the upcoming updates.
Enjoy the remainder of the week and be well.
Respectfully,
Brad Zilliox
