I am certain of a few factors that contributed to these changes, but am not fully aware of everything that went into making the “high” amounts of school spirit obvious one year and “low” the next. I am curious to know what are the biggest contributing factors leading to such changes. I also need to research how to better prepare the incoming freshman of the traditions that our school follows each year, from activity to activity throughout each sports season.
This study would allow me to see what is helpful for the freshman to know, in order to better prepare them for the activities and events that take place on and off campus. I would conduct the research and then gather the most crucial “what freshmen need to know” information and later compile it into a welcome packet. It will helpful to discover how to improve their knowledge by providing a hand guide to these traditions and events, possibly a calendar, and then plan on delivering the information right when they arrive to campus.
The first step in this process will be to conduct surveys in order to give them a voice. I am excited that this project would do just that. The reading last week really gave me some insight on ways that action research can be viewed as a valuable tool rather than more busy work for the staff that is involved in collecting the data. The sample for this group will be Freshman and Sophomores, and the size of the sample will be approximately 10 sophomores and 10 freshman.
My plan is to present the “what freshmen need to know” information and the finished packet to the administrative team, so that they can possibly use it for the next incoming class of students. This information will benefit teachers, in order to better understand what freshman need help with.
This information will help me to actually gather and collect the information for presentation in the packet. The research will help the freshman, to be better equipped with tools they need to understand the on campus activities and traditions of Spring Woods High School.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, SUGGEST, or WANT TO COMMENT ON?
It is interesting how school climate & school spirit can change year after year. I think teaching school spirit should be done by the upperclassmen but I just don't see it happening anymore. I know my sisters taught me the traditions of my high school. I'm not sure to what extent it is done at SWHS but maybe some spirit "mentor" programs could exist. In sports and band have big/little sisters/brothers but maybe extend it to students not in extracurricular activities to promote school/spirit/traditions.
ReplyDeleteSince I teach freshmen I try to explain some of the traditions, etc. to my advisory/home room classes, but a packet would be a great tool to use to better orient them to high school.
ReplyDeleteSuggestion - Ask some 8th graders what some of their concerns are.
I think it's a great idea. I also like the idea of upper other students mentoring and explaining traditions. Another suggestion...leaders of the incoming class think about a tradition for the school they can start??? Staff members need to be aware of traditions as well, especially new staff members.
ReplyDelete