We are #PalmyraProud of our CSS Principal, Mrs. Octavia Lee & the CSS Staff for earning this recognition!
The NJEA Office of Human and Civil Rights, Equity & Governance shared the following information about their NJEA Restorative Practices (RP) Roundtable Celebration to celebrate schools in NJ who have earned the recognition of being a restorative school. Through the partnership with Drs. John and Angie Gray of Stockton University, Charles Street School studied the ongoing process of RP as a paradigm shift of responding to behavior punitively to having a more positive perspective. Following these best practices provided the CSS team with additional levels of prevention, and intervention of challenging behaviors and set the foundation for win-win, collaborative situations and partnerships between students/families and educators.
Restorative Practices sets up opportunities to increase communication, respect, responsibility, and accountability on many levels. The goal of RP is to create a sense of belonging and inclusion for all parties, which establishes a cohesive school culture and climate conducive to teaching, learning, and student achievement. The principles of RP include relationship-building, community cohesion, restoration, reparation, and reintegration. There are many multi-faceted elements addressed within the constructs of RP, including anti-harassment, intimidation & bullying (HIB), social & emotional learning & wellness (SELW), Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB), character education, cultural competency / cultural humility, conflict resolution, and school safety, just to name a few.
With an effective RP community, there are many benefits including, but not limited to: absenteeism is reduced, recidivism is minimized, disciplinary intervention is minimized, instruction is prioritized, student engagement is increased, test scores are improved, safety is maintained, the code of conduct is supported, accountability is established, and the opportunity for student and school success is created and enhanced.
CSS Principal, Octavia Lee was recognized at the roundtable event for the school’s participation in the RP programs- only a few schools in the state received this distinction.
Photos shared include:
Mrs. Octavia Lee, Principal, Charles Street School
Dr. John Gray, Stockton University
Dr. Angie Gray, Stockton University
Antonio Castanon Luna, NJEA Human and Civil Rights, Equity, & Governance Division Manager
#PalmyraProud #BeSafeKindResponsibleRespectful #WeAreStrongerTogether #GoodNewsinNJSchools