By Scott Turnbull, Superintendent Soquel Unified Elementary School District
“Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.”
— Steven Covey (Author & Speaker)
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Finding your voice” is an integral part of the human maturation process. As educators, helping students in the quest to find their voice is one of the most impactful areas of support we can provide. Content and standards are crucial, but helping students find their confidence is an equally important part of the educational process, especially in a democracy like ours that depends on informed citizens being able to engage in meaningful discourse.
Young people want to have a voice, but it can be scary. Some students withdraw because they lack confidence. Some act out for the same reason. They may hide behind silliness or attention-getting behavior because they don’t feel confident enough to offer actual opinions. The challenge for teachers is to ensure there is a trusting environment where students are comfortable making mistakes and learn from them. Our teachers embrace mindfulness as an approach to create this type of safe learning environment.
School Approved Student Rally
It should come as no surprise, then, that the staff at New Brighton Middle School embraced the opportunity to support student voices on March 14. That was the day the New Brighton Staff supported a student-led event. The focus of the day stemmed from not only the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting recently in Florida but the unbearable streak of senseless school shootings we have endured as a country in the last 19 years beginning with Columbine High School and including Sandy Hook Elementary, names that weigh heavy on us as a country.
The students in Florida said it best, “enough is enough.” New Brighton Students showed their solidarity by commemorating the 17 lost lives with a 17-minute activity on March 14. Despite rainy and cold conditions, New Brighton students walked to the track and formed a large circle of approximately 700 students. Staff monitored to make sure the event was safe and orderly. Some students carried signs. A handful of students made speeches (this is no easy task in and of itself, adolescents speaking in front of 700 of their peers). Most of their words implored adults in leadership positions to help keep students safe.
It was democracy in action. New Brighton Teachers supported students in advance of the event. For example, Ms. Bell helped to vet students’ speeches, and Mr. Brodkey helped students who wanted to make signs. New Brighton Principal Mr. Broadhurst set the tone for the event by reminding students that being kind to each other on a day-to-day basis is one way to maintain a safe school environment. I was especially proud of the maturity of our New Brighton Students.
Our elementary schools also celebrated the 17-minute event but in unique and developmentally-appropriate ways. Santa Cruz Gardens held a Peace Parade. Soquel Elementary held a Kindness Celebration, and Main Street had a Stand Together event and painted “caring rocks.”
I have so much appreciation and respect for the educators that made these events happen. When we first learned of the national movement for a 17-minute activity on March 14, we had three choices on how to approach it. We could have just avoided it and not done anything. We could have had not provided proper guidance and ended up with disorganized events. Instead, our professional teams of educators found the appropriate middle ground in ensuring activities were appropriate for the age of their students yet still gave them a chance to strengthen their voice.
School Chorus Program
Turning to another type of voice, I wanted to share with you one of the many musically talented teachers in the district, Ms. Diane Bock at Soquel Elementary School. I recently had a chance to visit her Chorus Program that she hosts each Thursday before school starts. She has 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders come in, and it was a packed house full of students, parents, and staff members who were all there voluntarily. The positivity was tangible.
What a great way to start a day. Fellow teacher Mr. Carey-Stronck supported the jam session on drums, and Ms. Lemos provided the bass. Ms. Bock’s husband and son were even there to support the program. Students joyfully sang numerous songs. One song that was especially touching was “Lean on Me.”
The part that resonated so much with me was that students get up early and choose to come to school before classes start. The experience was a good reminder that music is a great motivator for many students. Ms. Bock does so much to support the overall learning program at Soquel with her musical talent.
Parcel Tax Vote in November
This coming November, SUESD will be respectfully asking the community to support a Parcel Tax aimed at student enrichment programs, especially music programs in our schools and increased salaries for teacher and staff retention and recruitment. Right now, our Home & School Clubs carry a lot of the weight of supporting music programs at our schools. New Brighton, a model middle school in just about every other way, doesn’t have a music program during the school day (there is after school music available).
We are hopeful voters will support us in November with filling in these funding gaps related to student music programs and better salaries for our outstanding staff like the ones who show up early to share their love of music with students.