“Are We There Yet?”
Whether traveling with a young child in a car or on a bus, in a train or a plane, I imagine that everyone of us has heard/been this plaintive little voice longing to know where they are and wanting to have finally arrived at that long awaited destination. As adults we too need to situate ourselves, to know where we are and where we are headed. We learn that the journey itself can be its own destination.
This year’s Mundo Verde journey has been to reconstruct and reimagine many of the traditions through which our students learn, experience, and celebrate what it means to be a global steward. Even as our school is still managing the lingering impact of the Covid pandemic on our community - it is in the daily routines and traditions that individual community members live and see evidence of the Mundo Verde Way.
Over the last few weeks, students, families and staff gathered together twelve times for Expos celebrating student learning - one for every grade on each campus. Over and over again, parents/caregivers could be heard breathing in deeply to say some version of, “so, this is the Mundo Verde I signed up for” or for those reentering the school after three years of pandemic exclaiming, “Ahh - this is the Mundo Verde I remember and have missed.” Having every single Expo happen robustly in person for the first time in three years is an important step along the school’s recovery journey. Witnessing these simple and profound moments demonstrates how much our community members have craved being together to support students' success and reflect on their achievement.
Last week, at approximately the midpoint of the academic year, school leaders participated in a formal review of the school priorities and work plan facilitated by our EL Education school coach. We examined the specific goals set last summer, identifying and celebrating accomplishments, while also narrowed in on areas of growth or improvement and recommitting to progress between March and June. A snapshot of a few highlights are:
Priority #1: Drive Improved Learning for All Students
Celebration/s: Students demonstrated growth in reading in English and Spanish (MAP Assessment results) and have nearly met goals for mid year achievement.
Area/s of growth: Students also grew in math, but in some grades are further from meeting goals for mid-year achievement.
Priority #2: Create Strong Staff Culture
Celebration/s: Our mid year survey of staff results show that 85 percent of the staff are planning to return/leaning towards returning next year, 75 percent of staff report a sense of belonging at Mundo Verde, and that 72 percent of staff are receiving appropriate recognition, along with helpful feedback, and coaching on doing things better from their manager.
Area/s of growth: Only 50 percent of staff reported consistent weekly meetings with their supervisor.
Priority #3 : Strengthen Systems
Celebration/s: Lattice has now been fully launched to support and track 1:1 meetings and teacher observations. On the parent/caregiver side, there was progress made in understanding the caregiver perspective to better meet the needs of families.
Area/s of growth: Managers are still working on consistency in support staff through weekly meetings and observations.
Overarching Priority : Promote Anti-Racism & Equity
Celebration/s: In walkthroughs and a race and equity audit, there is evidence that a majority of classroom spaces reflect the racial and ethnic background of students, and that they also arranged to accommodate discussions. Further, noted that the majority of teachers used body language that conveyed the message that each individual student’s questions and opinions mattered - they used proximity with students equitably and culturally appropriate eye contact with students across groups.
Area/s of growth: While mid-year staff turnover has declined overall, deeper examination shows that the percent of Black staff leaving is disproportionately high. On the parent/caregiver side, it is clear the school needs to work harder to ensure that our survey results and caregiver involvement is more representative of Black and Hispanic families.
As teachers return from a much needed rest over Mid-Winter Break, excitement will be in the air with the continued return of traditions we paused during the pandemic. Building from celebrations of learning, our community is actively working to be ready for many more – student-led conferences, biliteracy week and book fair, sustainability week and Earth day celebration, fourth grade trip to Nature Bridge, and fifth grade capstone trip to Puerto Rico - with 55 of our 67 5th graders confirmed to participate!!
Are we there yet? We are on our way getting stronger every week, persevering to make our school community better every year. We are resilient and we continue to rebuild.
We are honored to have you and your children with us on the Mundo Verde journey.
In community,
Kristin Scotchmer
Executive Director