S.A.F.E.: Student Safety and Sense of Belonging

Student Safety & Sense of Belonging PDF

Culture and Climate

Worcester Public Schools is committed to providing and sustaining environments in which all our students, faculty, staff, and families grow and thrive in environments where they feel valued, safe, and belong. 

Aim 1:

Increase all school community members’ feelings of value, safety and sense of belonging across all schools and grade levels.

Aim 2:

Enhance the use of culturally responsive pedagogy to connect learning to students’ backgrounds, experiences and interests.

Aim 3:

Expand the use of restorative practices to create a more equitable learning environment for all students.

Objectives and Purpose

Form a S.A.F.E. working group to provide input to student safety and sense of belonging in the Worcester Public Schools through:

  • district and community partnership

  • authentic two way communication

  • research-based recommendations

  • evaluating practices

  • development of common and consistent language

New School-Based Supports

School Based Supports & Practices

  • Culture and Climate Teams sites / schools

  • Wellness Rooms in secondary schools

  • Restorative Practices

    • Responsive Classroom

    • Restorative Meditation

    • Undercover Anti-Bullying Approach 

Specialized Staffing

  • Culture and Climate District Support from Q-teams

  • Deans of Students (at high schools)

  • Wraps and SACs in all sites / schools

  • Culture and Climate Assistant in secondary schools

Alignment to Vision of a Learner

  • Embedding Future-Ready skill instruction into all aspects of student learning including curriculum 

  • Sense of Belonging at the heart of the Instructional Framework