Porter Student Equity Team Leads Efforts to Boost Inclusion & Combat Absenteeism
What does it mean to be respectful, responsible, and safe in the cafeteria, auditorium, hallway, bathroom, and playground?Last year, the Porter Student Equity Team – or “SET” – assembled with the goal of figuring that out. The SET – rare at the elementary level, believed the school’s new student behavior matrix should be designed for students, by students. So, through biweekly meetings of kindergarten through fifth graders selected to represent their classmates, they worked together to come up with their own guidelines.
“It’s important to hear student voices,” Rasheda Cunningham explained. As the school’s Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Lead, Ms. Cunningham oversees the SET and leads the group’s meetings. “Sometimes, we as adults take their voices for granted. We can think we know what’s best for them, and then at times, the data can show differently! At Porter, we want to make sure that we’re meeting our students’ needs. We’re doing the best we can to do that, and we believe that one way is by showing them that we care for them – every day.”
This year, the group has expanded – to include the remaining SET members from last year, and to add new ones, ensuring that all grades are represented. At their meetings, the group follows an agenda: reviewing the role of the Student Equity Leadership Team, reiterating the student-determined meeting norms (be engaged, respect each other’s ideas, work together, and create new ideas), participating in a belonging activity, and discussing upcoming initiatives.
Their focus this year: a You Bee-Long Campaign! The SET hopes to make sure that everyone at Porter feels respected, included, treated fairly, and feels that their voice is heard. The SET leaders pledge to listen to their classmates, celebrate their differences, stand up for fairness, spread kindness, and create a welcoming school environment.
“I like being on the SET team because I like helping everyone and making other peoples’ lives better by making fun activities for them to do in school,” 4th grader Dipti Karki shared. “It makes me feel really good and I feel happy to see other people happy!”
To help reach their goal of celebrating all students who support the ‘You Bee-Long Here’ mission, the SET has planned a series of monthly initiatives. To attend, students must earn a certain number of Panda Paws (which they earn for following directions, doing their best, helping others, and more) and they must be PAX Leaders. At November’s Harvest Bar incentive, students were invited to select two items from a special fall-themed display, including toys, jewelry, snacks, cider, and more. As SET leaders, students not only came up with the incentive ideas, but also help with event set up and clean up.
“I like getting to help teachers and students with our monthly incentives,” 5th grader La'Rhaynia Gurrola agreed. “These things make the school better. When I go to middle school next year, I want to bring the idea of a SET with me… it makes a difference!”
La’Rhaynia mentioned that last year, she missed quite a bit of school – but since joining the SET, her attendance this year has improved.
The SET is also preparing to launch a pilot mentorship program this year, in which SET members will act as mentors for students who have been flagged as being chronically absent. The group will start by mentoring 30 students this school year, with the goal of expanding to reach more next year.
Through that program, students will check in regularly with their SET mentors, and will be invited to participate in weekly incentives like a lunch bunch to help improve their attendance.
Ms. Cunningham adds that the overarching goal of the Student Equity Team is to teach cooperation, empathy, self-control, and more – as well as to promote bonding among different grade levels and bridging the gaps between older student and younger ones.
We’re so proud of the student leaders who are working hard to create a more inclusive culture at Porter!
