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Culture
At Keswick School, our culture is the foundation of our community. Our program utilizes values-based instruction to encourage healthy relationships and promote pro-social behaviors. We emphasize dignity, respect, self-awareness, supporting others, integrity, and empathy. These concepts are woven through staff interactions with students as well as highlighted in concrete ways.
We believe that our students develop a positive sense of self through recognition and appreciation of their hard work and positive attributes. Acts of appreciation and recognition permeate the daily lives of all community members through frequent intentional chances to share them. Students are encouraged to appreciate each other at the end of most periods and during dorm meeting. We also use a system of written appreciations through which staff and students can recognize others for the positive impact they have. These written appreciations are read aloud to the community multiple times a week as a means to help students gain esteem. We believe so strongly in the value of recognition that every staff meeting begins with an opportunity to share appreciations.
Our weekly community meetings best illustrate our culture. On Thursdays, our whole community gathers together to honor the achievements of its members. Students have the opportunity to be recognized for their efforts in promoting a sense of community and for showing respect. We also recognize those students who have successfully earned a higher level through the petitioning process.
Each week, our community is invited to vote for a student and a staff member to win the Respect Award. We demystify the concept of respect by promoting concrete behaviors such as using kind words, inviting others to join in activities, welcoming/greeting others, and standing up for what is right.
Based on our school-wide anti-bullying program, students vote weekly for a student they believe has acted in ways that support our community values and promote pro-social behaviors such as defending peers from bullying, encouraging others to participate with the group, and supporting their peers in their efforts to do well.
We recognize our students' concrete positive actions in the classrooms and dorms. By adhering to specific expectations throughout the week, students can earn student and dorm member of the week and are recognized at Community Dinner on Thursdays. Daily, we recognize those students who have put in high effort in practicing their skills and cooperating with staff and peers through the Wolf Pack, which is announced at morning meetings on weekdays.
