Resolving Problems - "Students identify and develop an appreciation for different perspectives on issues. They show empathy, disagree respectfully, and create space for others to use their voices. They generate, use, and evaluate strategies to resolve problems."

Steves has used the acronym S.P.A.R.K. for many years as a teaching tool for teaching social responsibility and a vehicle for learning conversations when things are not going well. S.P.A.R.K. stands for:

Safe

Peaceful Problem Solving

Accepting

Respectful/Responsiible

Kind

At the beginning of each year we have had a S.P.A.R.K. week where students were led through several activities in grade groups to learn and reinforce this common language. Through most years we have had assemblies and events to remind our community of this comittment. With the pandemic, many of these activities were missed or very paired down this year. Next year we want to use direct instruction, throughout all areas of learning in how to think through and then solve problems.

It is our goal to have all students respond, "most of the time," or "all of the time." on the questions, below, from the Student Learnig Survey. We have room for growth in this area.