party time: what, how, and why we celebrate

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Party Time:What, How, and Why We Celebrate

Presented by: Genevieve Amaris, Enose Christmas, Kelsey Gernert, and Monica Sorensen

WELCOMECongratulations to our “Early

Birds”!

Please describe in one word how receiving your certificate made

you feel…

“Celebrate what you want to see more of. “

-Tom Peters


Why do we celebrate?

“Celebrate what you want to see more of.”-Tom Peters

We want to see…

ParticipationTeamwork

Punctuality and PreparednessCreativity and a “Can Do” Attitude

...So we will celebrate participants who demonstrate these qualities with Free and/or Almost Free incentives!



“Creating a can-do climate for both students and staff starts with a school-wide culture of success, usually beginning with a collaboratively created vision of that school climate.”

“Positive school climate approaches build on staff and student assets and tap those assets to contribute to school-wide improvement initiatives.”

Source: Pillar IV, TD Secondary

Simply stated, celebrating success breeds success! We can motivate and engage our students by

highlighting what they are doing right, rather than focusing on what is wrong.



“Research has shown that the implementation of punishment, especially when it is used inconsistently and in the absence of other positive strategies, is ineffective. Introducing, modeling, and reinforcing positive social behavior is an important step of a student's educational experience. Teaching behavioral expectations and rewarding students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehavior to occur before responding. The purpose of school-wide PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm.”

Source: www.PBIS.org

http://www.pbis.org/


What Do We Want to SEE in our DN Middle Schools?

Quick Audience Poll:

What specific behaviors do we want to see from Middle School students?

What are model qualities of a Middle School Teacher?


What can we celebrate?

Attendance Students AND Staff

Grades Honors Improvement

Behavior “Caught Being Good”

Growth Academic Personal

Extracurricular Excellence Capitalize on student interests


What Motivates Middle School Students?

What motivates YOU?


Now what Motivates Middle School Students? Table Activity #1: 5 minutes

Think all the way back to Middle School...

Jot down your top 3 priorities.

Fast forward to High School. Did those priorities change?

Think/Pair/Share.


EDIT: What Motivates Middle School Students?

NOTE: This slide is due to be revised. The team has been looking for info/research presented in a previous STF Institute session on the unique needs of Middle School students.

Middle grades learners represent a unique challenge.

Particularly vulnerable at this stage in life both to positive influences that can lift them onto a winning trajectory and to negative influences that can bring them down

to new lows.

Community, camaraderie, supportive relationships.


The Voice of Experience: Celebrating at Charles R. Drew Middle

SCHOOL PROFILE

Location: Miami

# of Students: 252

Free and Reduced Lunch: 99%

Diplomas Now! (2nd Year)

• Talent Development

• Communities in School

• City Year Charles Drew Middle School Dress to Impress Luncheon



“Celebrate what you want to see more of!”

• Attendance

• Behavior

• Course Performance

• Teachers and Staff

Time to stretch your legs!

INSTRUCTIONS:1) Blow up your balloon

2) Locate table with matching balloon3) Move to table quickly when asked

First seated table group will receive a prize!


Connecting Expectations to Celebrations:Table Activity #2- 10 minutes

As a group, please brainstorm the following:

REASONS to celebrate in a Middle School Whole School Grade or Team Level Individual

HOW we celebrate Where? When/Frequency? $$$

EFFECTIVENESS of celebration Desired outcome?


Create, Share, and Vote

Please write the group’s favorite celebration scenario on the provided piece of chart paper.

Choose one group member to present to the room.

Now…VOTE


“Great idea, but how do I pay for it?”

Fundraising Ideas

Don’t assume that the answer is “No”: School District School Administration

Mutually beneficial relationships: Educational Partners Local Business Community Groups

Close to home: Staff Parents Students


Table Activity #3- 5 minutes

As a group, please brainstorm the following:

Celebrations that cost nothing

Fundraising options for celebrations that would cost money



Free• Recognition

• Privileges

• Experiences

Almost Free• Small Incentives

Don’t Forget!

The importance of collaborative planning for DN celebrations:

DN Partners, Community, EESAC, School Partners, Parents.

We’re moving again!

INSTRUCTIONS:1) Please get up and move to the

perimeter of the room2) School teams choose a table and sit

3) Remaining participants will count off and be placed in work groups


Let’s Party!Table Activity #4- 30 minutes

Celebration Planning ToolObjective: Leave this session with an actionable plan

for a specific Middle School celebration that you want to execute at your school.

Be creative, and have fun!

CALENDAR What? When? Who? How?

Facilitators will circulate to answer questions and give suggestions.


All good parties must come to an end…

• SHARE• REVIEW• AWARDS


And the winner for

“Best Celebration” is…


“Celebrate what you want to see more of.”

Looking Ahead• Next Steps: Executing Celebrations

Wrapping Up • Why?• What?• How?

Thank you!

Comments, Questions, and Contact Info:Genevieve Amaris at [email protected] Monica Sorensen at [email protected] Christmas at [email protected] Gernert at [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]




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