Perkiomen Valley School District
Advancing our Mission: An Internal Resource for PV Staff
The Mission of the Perkiomen Valley School District is to cultivate an inclusive community of learners empowered to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally.
An Introduction to this Edition 🧡
"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." - Wayne W. Dyer
Dear Colleagues,
This is the first edition of the quarterly newsletter, Advancing our Mission. This is designed to be an internal resource for the staff in PV. As I settle into this new role, I look forward to the opportunity to continue connecting with our staff, students, and community at large.
February is here! In addition to Black History Month, there are other important culturally relevant traditions and celebrations to acknowledge. As a foundational resource, guidance from the Anti-Defamation League is being used to guide communications surrounding these topics.
While February is the shortest calendar month, there are many things that we can do to recognize and support the needs within our community.
Aligned with the theme Advancing our Mission, did you know…
- February is recognized as Black History Month in the United States and Canada. Since 1976, the month has been to designated to remember the contributions of Black Americans and to celebrate Black History and African American culture in the United States.
- February 1: National Freedom Day, which celebrates the signing of the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery in 1865.
- February 10: Lunar New Year (also known as the Spring Festival), one of the most sacred of all traditional Chinese holidays, a time of family reunion and celebration. The Lunar New Year is celebrated in East Asia in countries such as China, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Mongolia, as well as others.
- February is also National Random Acts of Kindness Month. What are some ways that we can continue to spread kindness? How do we exemplify kindness in our interactions with students each day?
- February is American Heart Month. All Americans are encouraged to wear red on February 2. HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!! Read this: From the White House. As educators, we know how important it is to help students understand the necessity of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This includes both physical and emotional wellness.
- President's Day is coming up on Monday, February 19. Were you aware of this Executive Order regarding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce from the White House from 2021?
Enjoy reading this edition. Feedback is always welcomed.
Educationally Yours,
Keya Champagne-Lee, Ed.D.
Supervisor of Equity and Student Services
Coffee/Cocoa and Conversations
The first round of Coffee/Cocoa and Conversations with each school building is coming to a close (the high school and South are next week). For those who attended, THANK YOU for your willingness to lean in and engage in dialogue. This conversation surrounded the evolution of diverse language. This six page fact sheet was used as a foundation for the conversational session. If you missed it, no fear, as there are more conversations on the horizon for the near future. See the flyers sent previously or check your building's upcoming calendar of events.
There are three key takeaways from this first conversational session. As educators, we must...
- Be mindful of the fact that the world is constantly changing. We must demonstrate an openness towards change.
- Ask questions and remain curious.
- Recognize that mistakes will happen. When they do, make thoughtful efforts to rectify them.
Give yourself grace as learning is a journey...😊
Climate Surveys
Thank you for your participation!!!
Over the past two weeks, students, staff, and families were invited to share their perceptions in a Climate Survey. Climate surveys can serve as a valuable tool to help identify perceived areas of strength and need within an organization. Our district’s Equity Action Plan identifies the implementation of Climate Surveys as an action step. Additionally, the Equity Action Plan indicates that we will “investigate and improve staff morale and workplace culture.” The Climate Survey is one tool that will help understand staff perceptions in various areas. The survey responses will be used to assess our district's current efforts and to identify potential areas for improvement. The survey results will be summarized and shared in the coming months.
Listening Campaign
Student Voice
The Listening Campaign has begun at the Middle Schools!!!!
Student voice is truly at the center of Equity work. As such, it's critical to develop a deeper sense of their lived experiences. In the book Street Data by Safir and Dugan, the authors express the importance of deep listening. Equity transformation involves seeking root causes and not quick fixes. Deep listening is one way to ensure that student voice is uplifted and will help lead us towards transformation. During these Listening Sessions with select student groups, I will be gathering student perceptions regarding their experiences within our schools. This anecdotal data collected will be analyzed to identify themes and trends.
Cocoa and Conversation at MS East
Listening Session at MS West
Coffee and Conversation at Schwenksville
Check Out these Resources!!!
Black History Month
There are TONS of great resources that are located on the PV Staff Portal. Click here to check out these resources.
Lunar New Year
Check out these resources to help teach students about the Lunar New Year.
Check out these elementary specific resources from Scholastic about the Lunar New Year.
Choose Kind 😍😃
Your efforts to support students each day are making an impact. Our district-wide structures such as PBIS as well as various social-emotional learning endeavors are helping to ensure that students understand the importance of kindness.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation provides free resources and activities. They have even translated these activities into many different languages. Random Acts of Kindness Resources.
Valentines Day is Feb. 14: Spread LOVE & KINDNESS
Some Inspiration!!!!
Need Help? Have Questions? Want to Connect?
Please feel welcome to reach out to me if you'd like to connect:
- Keya's Business Cell Phone: (267) 991-2968
- Keya's Office Phone: (610) 489-8506, ext. 1132
- Keya's Email: kchampagne-lee@pvsd.org