Sweet Gum's Reflections: Elementary Charter

At the beginning of every school year, Courtenay Labson, our School Counselor, and I guide a process for our Elementary students to create an "Elementary Charter."

This charter is a contract or agreement of sorts between the Elementary students that outlines a set of rules for the upcoming school year. These rules largely revolve around conduct; the students agree on standards for personal behavior and identify how to treat their fellow students with kindness and compassion.

The charter is manifested as a collective art project that is hung in the school lobby for the entirety of the school year. After constructing the art with our Art Teacher, Ms. Skor, each Elementary student signs the charter as a promise to individually and collectively uphold the standards they've written together.

This project is a fantastic way for Elementary students to work collaboratively and creatively with each other, identify how they wish to be treated (and therefore how to treat their peers), and grow into leaders in the school community. 

This year, some of our Sweet Gum students wanted to share their thoughts about the Elementary Charter process with our community. To watch their reflections, please click the video below!

Cheers,

Julian Denizard, Diversity Coordinator