2014-11-CYR-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 5. Community Education and Changing the Culture a) Build awareness and ongoing discussion through parent and community education activities b) Work together to change the culture and climate in schools, at home, and in the community in ways that help reduce stress and build resiliency Schools Town Government Community •Encourage school leaders to make reducing stress a •Continue good work towards developing positive •Organize community forums and education programs priority in the school culture;engage teachers/staff relationships between youth and police,fire,and coordinated by Community Resources for Youth on library who are seen as a resource for youth at risk topics such as: •Improve the school climate and culture by identifying • open discussion on"what the community wants" ways to reduce competitiveness,shift the focus more •Increase visibility of Town services and efforts to on learning rather than grades,recognizing non- serve youth at risk • how to redefine success academic and collective accomplishments • societal,parental expectations and its effect on •Offer more non-competitive recreational sports and students •Reduce peer-to-peer competition through more activities • how to balance a high-achievement culture with collaborative learning projects and group grading stress on students •Publicize public events and forums as well as •Make substantial improvements in communication to resources and services available to youth • open dialog between parents and children/teens parents at the district and individual school level about stress about school programs to reduce stress and build •Create a Teen Youth Summer Internship for teens to • discuss possible solutions and actions resiliency including use of websites,social media volunteer to work with Youth Services staff and assist •Organize events such as Youth Summits that bring in planning of community forums together teens,parents,town,and community to •Facilitate school-home partnership by establishing address concerns of teens and stress guidelines for parents on communication with school 'Increase support for coaches and recreation staff in staff and providing workshops for staff on working their efforts to build positive relationships with at-risk •Initiate parenting workshops,a "Parent University", with families youth and relieve unhealthy stress in general among or book groups around stress and parenting topics teens •Encourage development of student-run supports for •Utilize the resources and expertise of local healthcare stress,e.g.peer groups,advice columns,clubs, 'Establish partnerships with businesses and and mental health professionals to work with schools, acknowledgment of student voices companies for shadowing,internships,and community,and youth groups mentoring •Hire teachers and staff to reflect the diversity of the •Encourage community youth programs,counseling student population in order to enhance opportunities programs,mental health professionals,faith-based for adult mentorship and guidance to students of youth groups to work together and coordinate different cultures,orientations,and backgrounds programs •Provide Professional Learning to help teachers and •Create a family-friendly environment in schools and staff understand the diverse backgrounds of students community,e.g.inter-generational activities, in order to help them support the social-emotional improved communication,translation services needs of students •Continue and expand community efforts focusing on the social-emotional and mental health needs of the diverse student population,e.g.Lexington Asian Mental Health Initiative