Administrators are essential for a safe learning environment at any school. Compared to previous years, our administrators this year have been much more visible on campus, and we commend them for creating a better campus environment and for fostering better relationships with students. This school year, students have seen all of our school administrators at more school events, during lunch, and around campus openly talking to students. While these may seem like small gestures, they go a long way in terms of creating a more communicative and unified school environment.
Administrators openly speaking to students creates personal bonds. This, in turn, allows students to directly voice potential concerns to administration and allows administrators to effectively address them.
During September, Principal Wohlman met with every English class in each grade level to address the issue of fighting on campus. In these meetings, the principal first opened with information about his personal life, allowing students to see him as a relatable person, not just as a principal.
Wohlman could have easily sent out an email or ParentSquare message with the same information as the assembly. However, by taking the time to talk to all of us and ask us questions in person, he showed students that he cares about connecting with them at an individual level.
In turn, he was able to more effectively encouraging students to avoid fights and make our campus a safer place, which was the purpose of the assembly.
Additionally, Wohlman is also a very approachable administrator. During the assembly, he made many students laugh with his jokes and answered many questions students had. He also often takes pictures with students, showing his commitment to making connections on campus.
Wohlman also initiated the Fight Free Campus Challenge where each grade is challenged to go the rest of the year without fighting, with an incentive at the end. This challenge is the first of its kind and shows the
unity that the principal is trying to foster within the school.
On Oct. 18, administrators, teachers, and students dressed up in the anti-bullying color of orange
for a picture to spread the message of anti-bullying as well as kick off the Fight Free Campus Challenge. This event showed the unity the school can have and how administrators being open with students about their concerns can have a positive impact on the campus.
In addition, McMurray fosters unity through hosting basketball tournaments during lunch. Along with PE teacher Jesus Zamudio, tournaments involving teams of both staff and students play against each other.
The games also have speakers that play music as well as Zamudio and McMurray announcing the games. By creating this fun environment, McMurray along with Zamudio make the basketball courts a community for those who decide to play during lunch. This makes the basketball courts a place where both students and staff can bond, through playing against as well as with each other.
Additionally, during lunch students of ten see Anglon watching the cafeteria line before other monitors arrive. This not only allows Anglon to stop potential line cutters, but also talk to more students on campus. A simple “Hello” and “How has your day been?” may seem insignificant, but they can still have a positive effect on the campus as students get to interact with our admin more directly.
Frequently this year, administrators have walked into classes and said hello to teachers and students. They often ask students what they are learning about as well as how they are doing, showing their commitment to hearing from our student population.
We appreciate the increased visibility and approachability of our administrators and the transformative impact their actions have had on our campus. By having open administrators, we allow our campus to be a
more communicative and thus safe place for all.