A strong school culture is built up over the years that can be difficult to shake off. The culture that a school fosters can either make or break a school, especially in terms of student achievement and student happiness. The following are a few ways to look at how you can cultivate school culture successfully:
o Involve your students in school events. Involvement is not limited to events such as sports games and club activities; it extends to the daily routine of what students do at school. For example, when students are taking the bus to school each morning, they should know where they’re going and how they’ll get there. This can help the school community bond together and increase student understanding of school rules and procedures.
o Give students their own voice. It’s important to give students a platform to speak up and express themselves. At school, this means allowing them to become leaders and use their wisdom to encourage others to think differently and be more creative. Give them an opportunity to speak about school culture in an educational setting and gain others’ insight. This will allow for healthy dialogue later on.
o Keep school traditions. traditions are what keep schools alive. They allow students to have a sense of connection and belonging and bind the school together in a way that doesn’t just happen with the passage of time. To build a lasting school culture, make sure that your traditions don’t change. If a school moves away from its traditions, you’ll have a hard time getting those same students back into your classroom.
o Give students an opportunity to shape their school culture. There are lots of options available to students who want to shape their school culture. Cultural events can be held on campus or at out-of-town events like pep rallies. Use these opportunities to engage your students and to provide an experience that will remind them of what it is to be part of a school.
o Promote school culture. It’s important to promote your school culture because it encourages unity, spirit and excellence among your students. There are a variety of ways you can promote school culture and one of the best is through school newsletters. Your newsletter can tell about school events, activities, and even highlight your school colors.
o Use event calendars to create events. Calendar-based events can be used to engage your students. For example, you can create a calendar about your school year and encourage students to write to you with what they’d like to see for the coming year. This can serve as an open forum where students can share their ideas and thoughts. Involve your students in the planning process and you’ll be able to create something that has real meaning for everyone.
A strong school culture is one of the keys to success. The more connected and invested your student’s are in your school, the more likely they are to excel. You can develop a strong school culture by focusing on the personality traits that create strong cultures. Always encourage your students to be themselves and to talk about their personal beliefs and values. If you want to focus on school culture and the positive things that it can do for your school, follow these steps and watch your school grow!