School Projects for Positive Change: Empower Students to Positively Impact Their Communities

Inflexion February 9, 2021

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High school students in blue t-shirts with the word "volunteer" printed on them sort donated clothes in cardboard boxes. One female student faces the camera smiling.

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of it for another.

– Charles Dickens

INTRO

Empower students to positively impact their communities, country, and the world. Consider projects from Design for Change.

GO skills and behaviors include elements of student agency– self-awareness, self-knowledge, and an understanding of who you are in the context of the world around you, including your family and your community. This includes leadership skills, advocacy skills, self-care, and healthy habits as well as skills like kindness and empathy. Many of these skills are necessary to successfully navigate big life transitions such as attending college, enrolling in a vocational program, starting a new job, or even beginning a new personal relationship.

OBJECTIVES

Challenge students to use their time to do what matters most to them and their communities

Help your students learn how to prioritize and balance their planning and commitments

RESOURCES

P R O J E C T I D E A S : Design for Change – Student Action Projects

ACTIVITY

Empower students to positively impact their communities, country, and the world.

Consider projects like these from Design for Change.

TIPS

Key Moves are efforts that require a bit of planning, but can be implemented within the next 3-6 months

Like this activity? Check out Inflexion’s full-page GO document for more ideas.

Categories: Toolkit

Tags: 21st Century Readiness, Community Activities, Inclusive Practices, Instructional Practices, School Leaders, Shared Vision for Readiness, Student Activities, Student Empowerment, Student Experience

Inflexion

Resources We Love (And Hope You Will Too!)

During our May Counterpart meetings, we asked folks to share what they have been engaging with recently. Below is a list of all the resources shared by our incredible community, offering a taste of the diverse and inspiring content they’re currently exploring. This list has something for everyone: from thought-provoking articles to captivating podcasts to must-watch documentaries. So, take a peek, pick your poison, and get ready to dive into something fantastic!

Michelle Liebhardt June 5, 2024

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Case Study: Merced Union High School District

Through its work with Inflexion, MUHSD is seeing strong results in student outcomes and in closing the opportunity gap for underserved students. California School Dashboard data show College/Career Indicator scores for African American, Hispanic, English Learners, students with disabilities, students who are homeless, and students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are 16 to 29 points higher than the state average.

Inflexion June 9, 2020

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Passion. Pride. Promise. Two Leaders Help Pave the Way for Their Students & Communities

Tucked away in the hills of rural western Oregon, the Vernonia and Gaston school districts defy many of the stereotypes most of us hold when we think of rural schools. Their communities face both common and unique challenges. Vernonia Elementary Principal, Michelle Eagleson, and Gaston Superintendent, Summer Catino, share how their small schools and communities achieve greatness.

Vanessa Brazil October 25, 2022

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Build Unity Through Change: Engage Staff in Continuous Improvement Processes

Continuous improvement should be embedded in day-to-day work, in a systemized, organic way. You can think of the cyclical process as a formative assessment of the ideas being tested.

Inflexion June 7, 2023

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Snapshot of What’s Working: Multi-Tiered System of Support

Few large-scale policy initiatives speak to the potential of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) more so than the California Scale-Up Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Statewide Initiative—simply referred to as California MTSS.

Inflexion February 15, 2019

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Family And Community Engagement (FACE): How To Get Started with Community School Development

So you’re familiar with community schools. You’re interested. But getting started can feel like the hardest part. While your own school/district’s path may ultimately differ from Anaheim Union School District’s, their example can help you begin mapping out where to start.

Inflexion April 19, 2023

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Diverse group of smiling high school students sitting in front of a row of computers.

Portico Student Experience Survey: Measuring Belonging, Connection, Engagement

Let’s move away from an environment where kids are sorted, packaged, and labeled based on the perceptions of adults that barely knew them. Readiness and success should be defined by students’ engagement, adaptability, and what they can do with their knowledge. However, students need to feel a sense of belonging, connection, and engagement as well as demonstrate self-awareness, self-management, and well-being to achieve true readiness and success. This survey process is an important step in that direction.

Inflexion February 21, 2023

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Implementing PBIS: 6 Challenges and 7 Supports to Consider for Your Schoolwide Program

Effectively implementing a schoolwide PBIS system that is equitable and meets the needs of all students may feel like a fairy tale. But by understanding the barriers to successful implementation and the supports needed to overcome them, school leaders can better prepare for and modify PBIS at their sites.

Inflexion May 17, 2023

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Elementary teacher and students sit in a circle smiling and laughing.

Incorporate SEL in the Classroom: Engaging Strategies for Brain Breaks and Transitions

Educators and OST providers understand and believe in the power of SEL, but often seek clarity about how to demonstrate and observe SEL in action.
The Engaging Strategies and Brain Breaks are practical ways to introduce and broaden the use of SEL practices in classrooms, schools, and even workplaces.

Inflexion March 3, 2021

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Diverse group of parents and teachers smiling and talking informally.

Practice Anti-Bias Education Through Family & Community Engagement: Support Teacher-Family Relationships Built on Respect

Strong communication between school staff and families is important in any school, and has special relevance for schools committed to anti-bias education. These suggestions complement a school’s anti-bias education program, and are great ideas for fostering a healthy community between all stakeholders, (staff, students, teachers, community, and families).

Inflexion May 25, 2021

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INTRO

OBJECTIVES

RESOURCES

ACTIVITY

TIPS

Related Articles

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