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Senior Director of Student Support Services Maura Papile presented the Student Support Services Program Improvement Plan, accompanied by Principals Daniel Gilbert and Courtney Mitchell, Health Interventionist Terrell Johnson, and Science Teacher Andrea Marzilli. Ms. Papile said that this is a re-entry plan, how Quincy Public Schools will support students and staff returning to school full-time in person. In reflecting on last year’s goals, these were COVID-19 focused and re-entry after the extended school closure of Spring 2020. Student Support staff worked with students in the multiple learning models in Fall and Winter 2021, in-person, hybrid, and fully remote. In addition, there was a focus on expanding effective communication and collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure parallel access to engagement opportunities.
Looking ahead to this school year, the first priority is to assist students to re-engage in their school community, develop empathy and critical relationship skills. Under the Restorative Justice Education professional development, staff will be able to engage in and train others to facilitate community circles for building a sense of belonging and connectedness in schools. Student Support staff will help create a school-wide action plan that focuses on repairing harm, including student voices in the process, and integrating a whole-school approach.
Principal Courtney Mitchell reviewed Social-Emotional Wellness and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at the Merrymount Elementary School, including morning check-ins, projects that celebrate students uniqueness and commonalities, school-wide “one book” events, and discussion circles. All these initiatives are focused on understanding differences, respect for peers, and showing care for others.
Broad Meadows Middle School Principal Dan Gilbert said that the relationships with the students is the most important part of being a principal, last year was difficult with half of the school learning remotely. Caring for the students and ensuring that students have a trusted adult at their school and a voice in their classes are priorities. Middle schools are expanding on the “one book, one school” initiative, utilizing community circles including creating norms (staff and students). Mr. Gilbert shared community building activities used in classrooms to build connectedness.
Quincy High School Health Interventionist Terrell Johnson and Science Teacher Andrea Marzilli presented on the social-emotional supports for students, creating team-building opportunities based on the Project Adventure curriculum to support an inclusive and supportive learning environment that teaches relationship skills needed to connect, bond, and build community. For the staff, the COVID-19 pandemic caused fears about illness and adapting to new teaching challenges. At the Professional Development meeting, staff used the community circle model to build awareness of each other’s concerns and created space to acknowledge and release tensions. For students, most teachers will provide Tier 1 supports in classrooms, which are preventative/proactive practices around relationship building and creating norms around behavioral expectations. The goal is to keep students in classroom, addressing why behaviors are occurring, and working together to meet the needs of the individual.
Ms. Papile thanked the presenters, a lot has been accomplished in the first few weeks of the school. Special thanks to the staff members who participated in the professional development over the summer and brought it back to the schools.
Mrs. Hubley said that many parents are concerned about their children and depression, how are we identifying students who are not comfortable sharing and supporting them. Ms. Papile said the students will become more comfortable with the circles over the course of the year and that hopefully positive relationships will develop. Ms. Papile offered to assist families who are looking for outside counseling resources. Ms. Papile said students would not be put on the spot or made to participate.
Mrs. Hubley asked for the homeless student data to be shared, broken out by grade level.
Mr. Bregoli said that Kindergarten teachers have used the circle concept for many years, it may be easier to implement at elementary schools where students are generally with the same teacher for the whole day. In middle and high school, where students have a number of teachers this may be more difficult. Mr. Bregoli asked about moving away from “zero tolerance” policies, Ms. Papile said serious incidents call for consequences. In many instances, there are incidents that can be mediated and students made accountable, for example, two students fighting online. Ms. Papile used vaping as an example, interventions are used rather than moving immediately to exclusion. Mr. Bregoli said in the end, this is about students learning to treat each other as they want to be treated and builds on many long-standing practices in Quincy Public Schools.
Mr. Gutro thanked the presenters, all School Committee is concerned about re-entry issues, the Student Support Staff is working to meet the moment. Acknowledging all that students have been through is important, innovative ideas to engage with students, and how we are assessing student anxiety and behavioral changes.
Mrs. Perdios said that how re-entry to school would work is a concern for many parents. Ms. Papile said that all staff are re-trained on the protocol around student privacy issues, any concern about student safety must be immediately reported to an administrator and subsequently their parent.
Mrs. Perdios asked if all schools are using these practices and Ms. Papile confirmed. A district-level team has been collaborating and training staff members to get started with community building at a top level.
Mrs. Perdios asked about the line between supportive for behavioral issues versus addressing safety/disciplinary issues. For example, the Tik Tok challenge about destroying school property or the role of high school Security staff. Ms. Papile said there are not changes to the disciplinary procedures in relationship to safety, thankfully, QPS does not have a lot of incidents but there will be consequences. A minor issue in a classroom could be resolved at the classroom level but nothing beyond that.
Mr. Santoro said there are differences between the elementary, middle, and high school approaches. In his experience, celebrating positive behaviors is very important.
Mrs. Lebo asked for and received confirmation that the majority of students will remain at the proactive/preventative level. Mrs. Lebo asked and received confirmation that all students will have the opportunity to do this in at least one class.
Mrs. Lebo asked how staff ensure that some students don’t dominate the circle, Mr. Johnson said that there is a talking piece that moves around the circle giving each person the opportunity to talk, but there is no cross-talk.
Mrs. Lebo asked about analyzing the responses of those who don’t feel comfortable about sharing, teachers will be working on restorative chat module next.
Mrs. Lebo asked about student surveys, Ms. Papile said those are to be developed as a district-wide team.
Mrs. Lebo noted that Quincy High School Health Teacher is missing from staff list and several other issues with these pages. Ms. Papile will share updated pages.
Mr. Bregoli noted that there are eleven elementary schools and seven Physical Education teachers.
Mrs. Lebo requested the specialist staff schedules and enrollment figures that correspond.
Mrs. Perdios asked about the Family Liaison positions, Superintendent Mulvey said these will be part of the English Learner Education programs. Two excellent candidates
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the Student Support Services Program Improvement Plan. Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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