Caring School Community Program

Our school uses the Caring School Community (CSC) program. It is a research based Grade P-6 program that builds classroom and schoolwide community while developing students’ social and emotional (SEL) skills and competencies. It provides specific lessons and activities that integrate community building efforts across the school day and throughout the school year. The program consists of four components designed to work together to build community in the classroom and school: Class Meeting lessons, a cross-age Buddies program, the Homeside Activities and the Schoolwide Community Building Activities. These components help students develop respect for each other and take ownership for their learning and behavior.

Class Meetings

Class meetings are at the core of the CSC program. They offer teachers and students a forum for getting to know one another, discussing issues, identifying and solving problems and making deicsions that affect classroom climate. Meetings are conducted in a circle, with a specific expectations for speaking and listening as part of a group during discussions. The teacher’s role is to create an environment in which the student’s learning, opinions, and concerns are taken seriously. The student’s role is to participate as valued and influential contributors to the classroom community.

Cross Age Buddies

Each class is buddied up with another class. It is recommended that there be an approximate separation of 2-3 years between grades paired together. Activities are designed to build relationships in the school by pairing older and younger students for joint activities. The book that accompanies the CSC program describes how to implement a Buddies program. It provides activities that help buddies get to know one another, explore academic content in Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health, Art, Music, and Phys. Ed, and reflect on their experiences.

Homeside Activities

The program includes a book of Homeside Activities per grade level that engage students and family members in conversation and strengthen the relationship between home and school. Each activity should be introduced in the classroom, continued at home and concluded in the classroom with group interaction and sharing. The K-3 activities are addressed to an older individual at home who directs the conversation. The 4-6 activities addressed to the student and are student directed. These activities typically take 15-20 minutes to complete and are opportunities for families to share experiences and opinions related to academic and social themes important to the life of most classrooms.

Schoolwide Community Building Activities

The Schoolwide Community Building Activities is a collection of activities that build relationships emphasizing inclusion and participation, cooperation, helping others, taking responsibility, appreciating differences, and reflection. They link the students, parents, teachers, and other adults in the school; help foster new school traditions and promote helpfulness, inclusiveness and responsibility.