SSF Lever 9:

Climate and Culture

School climate means the quality and character of school life, including interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices, and organizational structures, as experienced by students enrolled in the school district, families of those students, and personnel employed by the district. School culture is the accumulation of deep patterns of values, beliefs, and traditions that have developed over time. These form the core principles and practices of the school.

  • Foster a positive, growth-oriented, and collaborative mindset among adults in the school

    • Key Practice 9.1.1: Growth Mindset

      • Foster a positive, growth-oriented, and collaborative mindset among adults in the school.

    • Key Practice 9.1.2: Benefit Mindset

      • Foster a benefit mindset among adults in the school.

  • Clearly define a core mission, vision, and set of values that are student-centered and include a focus on non-academics

    • Key Practice 9.2.1: Mission and Vision

      • Identify a clear core mission, vision, and set of values that are student-centered and include a focus on non-academics.

    • Key Practice 9.2.2: Focused Goals

      • Ensure campus-wide alignment with focused goals to enhance accountability and establish a deeply rooted positive school culture.

  • Engage students in learning that is interesting, relevant, and at the appropriate level of difficulty

    • Key Practice 9.3.1: Strategies for Engaged Learning

      • Incorporate educational strategies that promote engaged learning.

    • Key Practice 9.3.2: Foster Learning Through Play and Creativity

      • Utilize educational strategies that incorporate fun and creative expression aligned with instructional goals.

  • Build relationships to enhance student belonging and connectedness

    • Key Practice 9.4.1: Welcoming Practices

      • Implement welcoming practices and positive customer-service orientation.

    • Key Practice 9.4.2: Relationship-building Practices

      • Enhance communication and rapport through positive relationships between students, staff, peers, and families/communities.

    • Key Practice 9.4.3: Belonging for All Students

      • Implement best practices to support student belonging for all students.

    • Key Practice 9.4.4: Support for All Students

      • Develop and implement proactive strategies that recognize and promote the strength and individual contributions of each student to the school community.