The Dignity Act

A Resource and Promising Practices Guide for School Administrators & Faculty

 

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SECTION IV: COMMUNICATING WITH THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY

Establishing or leveraging an existing system for communicating with the entire school community, including faculty and staff, parents and students, and community members may play a key role in gaining support at the local level for the implementation of the Dignity Act. It is critical to keep in mind that communication should be an evolving and continuous process, including a process for encouraging feedback.

Over the course of a school year, new situations and issues will likely emerge and new students and staff may enter the school community. An ongoing dialogue surrounding issues addressed in the Dignity Act will be vital in promoting a school climate free from discrimination and harassment that values and respects diversity.

Regardless of how the school provides information and gathers feedback, on-going communication with the whole school community is essential to sustaining an inclusive school culture that meets the needs of all students.

Schools are encouraged to use multiple means of communicating with the school community to ensure the Dignity Act becomes part of the fabric of the school culture, including but not limited to:

  • District and/or school town hall and parent meetings
  • District and/or school workshops for various stakeholder groups including but not limited to parents, students, faculty and staff, community members, etc.
  • District and School websites
  • District/school questionnaires and/or surveys
  • A Dignity Act Coordinator email box through which to gather community feedback and concerns
  • School newsletters and brochures aimed at one or more of the various stakeholder groups
  • Posters developed by the District and disseminated to all school sites
  • Establishing local committees to enhance implementation and communication

It is important to include students in promoting positive and respective interpersonal relations using the following strategies:

  • Student forums
  • Discussion groups and/or regularly scheduled meetings of students and school leaders in addition to student government meetings)
  • School culture and areas of concern as agenda items for student government meetings
  • Displays of student posters that promote interpersonal and intergroup respect
  • School and/or class newsletters and newspaper

 

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Last Updated: May 30, 2012