Challenge Success Fall 2024 Conference
The Challenge Success Fall conference started on a Friday afternoon, went through the evening, and then ran most of the next day- and it was worth the time and effort to attend.
I was excited to hear Denise Pope speak and was able to attend two of her workshops. One workshop was called “Student Pulse Check: Understanding and Improving Well-being, Engagement and Belonging” during which she shared national student data trends. These indicate tat top stressors for students are grades, parent stress around grades, high school and college admissions, being over scheduled, social life/friends, feelings of safety, and technology.
Sleep is a huge issue for students. Middle schoolers get an average of 7.7 hours of sleep a night and kids 13 and younger need at least 9-11 hours of sleep. Sleep deprivation is closely connected to depression and anxiety. Sleep is when learning is consolidated. More vulnerable populations are even more susceptible to less sleep.
Dr Pope talked about the ABCs of engagement: affective, behavioral, and cognitive. Full engagement correlates to well-being, learning and belonging.Coping and belonging feed on each other. Having an adult to go to increases feelings of belonging.
We were asked to make a list of things we think we are already doing well in our schools in these areas and I made a list that made me feel proud of the work that everyone is doing at Burke’s.
SEL/IFSEL
Affinity Groups
Survey on Belonging
Strategic Plan focus on wellness/wellbeing
Committed teachers
A counselor in each division
Being student-centered
Emphasis on joy in learning
School families
Challenge Success Framework for School Change: SPACE
S: Supportive schedule and use of time
P: Pedagogy that engages
C: Climate of Care
E: Education for Everyone
Friday evening was “Dialogue Night” during which the Challenge Success youth council did some skits portraying the kinds of situations that can happen at home between kids and teens and then the audience shared observation and reflections. It was an excellent form of parent education!
The sessions I participated in on Saturday were:
Rigor Redefined
Reimagining Wellness in Schools
Keys to Strengthening Wellness, Engagement, and Belonging through Family and Staff Book Clubs
Success Strategies that Drive Inclusive Engagement
I highly recommend this local conference for anyone interested in the work of Challenge Success.