School Beliefs

Encouraging inclusivity

Maintaining a positive environment for students allows for academic achievement

Students in SAFE host a civic action workshop on Feb. 23. Building a close community helps clubs like SAFE work together to reach their higher goals. Photo used with permission of Renee Isom.

“Each student deserves a school where educators teach inclusively and dismantle barriers that prohibit students from their authentic selves,” the FHS website said.

Ameera Tai taiame000@hsestudents.org

Posted around the building, on the FHS website, and repeated daily in the announcements, Tigers are constantly reminded to ‘have pride, show character and build tradition.’ The belief statement emphasizes the importance of community within the school. To sophomore Virginia Hernandez, fostering respect, integrity and perseverance are major goals set to create a positive learning experience for students. The school website states its core purpose as “‘[preparing] our students as lifelong learners who positively impact an ever-changing world.’” “It gives [students and staff] a sense of belonging and being considered family,” Hernandez said. According to the school website, the message aims to promote growth amongst students both academically and emotionally. Senior academic dean Nawla Williams recalls how when crafting the mission statement, the teachers, students and stakeholders looking at it wanted to focus on equality and the importance of a respectful environment. “Belonging is huge for us,” Williams said. “If you don’t have a sense that you belong in this building, it’s hard to concentrate on [classes] when you are worried about other things that make you uncomfortable.” A method to encourage community is through school sanctioned activities. Junior class officer Lily Sharp believes these events generate excitement and motivate students to become more active members in the school. “We have spirit days and spirit leaders,” Sharp said. “They all make an effort to try and get people to go to the games.” Through ways like showing school spirit, FHS expresses their strong value in community, as they believe it will build the acceptance of students. According to the Hamilton Southeastern School’s Non-Discrimination & Non-Harassment Statement, acceptance between students and staff allows a better opportunity to succeed. By implementing policies disapproving of discriminatory behaviors, the district attempts to create a safe learning space. “You’ve got to feel safe and connected to people in the building,” Williams said. “If you have safety and belonging, then you can concentrate on things that are more executive.” Additionally, there are some, such as Hernandez, who feel impacted by these beliefs. She shares how she has previously attended four other schools, but has felt this is the only one that cares about her well being. “I think this school does a really good job at maintaining a healthy environment,” Hernandez said. “Especially because I come from a place

where those things aren’t really enforced enough.” Providing adequate support and accountability within students as they move towards graduation is how Williams believes teachers are able to build community. She mentioned how employability classes encourage students and teachers to talk about serious topics, which further helps bring everyone together. “It’s nice to know that we have a staff that is making an effort to try and incorporate [inclusive] into our school,” Sharp said. However, there are some who feel as though efforts to improve the school are offset by academic competition. Sharp believes that the deemed importance of academic achievements, like SAT scores and grades, can cause students to value appearance to others over the intended message of promoting acceptance. “I think it is good that we have [mission statements] in our handbook and that students are aware we have them,” Sharp said. “[But] sometimes they aren’t being enforced in the best way.” Additionally, with the widespread use of social media, hateful speech is easier to spread and can be amplified. According to the National Bullying Prevention Center, there has been an increase in bullying by nearly 20% since 2007. “People can just be so very hateful [and it] kind of breaks apart [the] community,” Sharp said. The impacts of an accepting student body can easily be countered by those who choose to create a negative environment and ignore action that should be taken to continue improving the school. Efforts taken by administration and student government leaders allow for improvement that works towards accomplishing the goals mentioned. “I feel like there’s a lot of things that go unmentioned and [no one] takes any action to stop what they’re seeing,” Sharp said. “And if we really, truly want to act as a community for our school, we need to take action. If we see something, say something,”