School - Student Connections

One of the more subtle yet most important missions of our Upper School is to develop a connective relationship between our students, families, faculty, and school because studies have shown that students are more likely to succeed when they feel connected to the school. School connection is the belief by students that adults in the school care about their learning as well as about them as individuals. The critical requirements for feeling connected include students’ experiencing solid academic expectations and rigor combined with support for learning, positive student/adult relationships, and physical and emotional safety.

Increasing the number of students connected to school influences critical accountability measures such as improved academic performance; lessened incidents of fighting, bullying, or vandalism; lower absenteeism; and greater school completion rates.

Strong scientific evidence demonstrates that increased student connection to school promotes motivation, classroom management, and improved school attendance. These three factors in turn increase academic achievement.

Likewise, there is strong evidence that a student who feels connected to school is less likely to exhibit disruptive behavior, school violence, substance abuse, and emotional distress.

Upper School strategies for increasing the likelihood that students will feel connected to school include solid academic standards and expectations and providing academic support for all students; applying reasonable and fair disciplinary policies that stress positive reinforcement; creating trusting relationships among students, teachers, staff, administrators and families; supporting capable teachers skilled in content, teaching techniques, and classroom management to meet each learner’s needs; fostering positive parent/family expectations for school performance and completion; and ensuring that every student feels close to at least one adult at school.

Does this guarantee success? Unfortunately, not always…but our experiences have shown that our philosophy does create a comfortably inclusive environment that allows each of our students to connect in whatever way they feel will allow them to most likely achieve success—personally, socially, academically.