School Climate & Belonging

AMITY - WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS

At Amity, fostering a positive school climate and a sense of belonging is central to our educational philosophy. We recognize that every student brings a unique set of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to our community. By embracing and honoring students, we create a vibrant learning environment where students learn from one another and develop the skills necessary to thrive in an interconnected world.

We also believe that all learners should have access to the resources necessary to achieve their fullest educational potential with the full support of a community of leaders. We are dedicated to providing every student with equitable access to high-quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances. We work to ensure that all learners have the tools and opportunities they need to succeed academically, socially, and personally.

Finally, at Amity all learners must belong to and feel supported in their learning environment for them to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. We work to create a sense of belonging and support for each member of our school community. We understand that when students feel valued, respected, and connected to their peers and educators, they are better positioned to excel in all aspects of their education

AMITY'S GUIDING PRINCIPALS

Safety & Belonging

DEI Guideline Icon: Safety and Belonging, Group of 3 people together

Safety & Belonging

Physical and emotional safety and belonging are foundational to our students’ development and the creation of an enriching learning environment.

Students and Staff feel safe in school
Students and Staff are safe in school
Students find meaning and purpose in school experiences
Students will have multiple (diverse) opportunities to engage in the school community

Goals

Provide physical, emotional, and behavioral safety.
Consistent application of behavioral expectations and rules
Actively enhance access for all students to experiences and opportunities

Curriculum Inclusiveness

An inclusive curriculum provides access for all learners to build comprehensive perspectives that allow students to become respectful, self-aware citizens capable of individual post-secondary success.

Students have access to multiple and different perspectives
Students have multiple entry points to build understanding and perspective around group identities and cultures
Students engage in critical thinking and analysis

Goals:

Ensure the selection of resources and texts are aligned to the objectives of the curriculum and will allow access of curriculum to all students
Ensure all learners will have common experiences within the same curriculum area across all levels
Improve instructional practices to meet the needs of all students within the general classroom setting.
Provide professional learning to improve inclusive instructional practices.
Ensure all students have an awareness of various career pathways and options for post-secondary goals.

Cultivating Relationships

Positive relationships are integral to supporting student engagement and readiness to learn. Shared understanding of the work done in school with families and the community is essential to student success during and after the secondary school experience.

Connectedness within and among members of the school community and families
Intentional skill building regarding intrapersonal perspectives and interpersonal relationships
Establishing effective and consistent communication
Foster trusting relationships between all students and adults in school

Goals:

Create positive student to student connections.
Create positive student to school personnel connections.
Create positive school personnel to school personnel connections.
Create positive school personnel to family connections through clear and consistent communication regarding efforts to support belonging and a positive school climate.
Create positive school district to community connections through clear and consistent communication regarding efforts to support belonging and a positive school climate.

RESOURCES & REPORTS

Amity's Increasing Educator Diversity Plan

In the Spring of 2024 the Amity BOE adopted an updated Increasing Educator Diversity Plan. Our vision in this work is;

We believe that each student has a right to the unimpeded access to the opportunities and resources necessary to develop to their full academic and social potential and that each individual in our community should have a genuine sense of social, emotional, and academic belonging. We further believe the differences in individual and cultural characteristics, identities, and traits of each person and group in our school and community are valuable and that students are better served when teachers and teacher leaders reflect the diversity of our community.

Our beliefs are consistent with the Connecticut State Board of Education’s equity and excellence goals for all students. “First, that every student deserves to benefit from the promise of high expectations and standards for what they can learn and be able to do. Second, great schools are safe, diverse, welcoming environments where students thrive and receive exceptional teaching and learning. And third, great teachers and leaders are supported throughout their careers with quality professional learning that continues to grow and refine educator practice."

INCREASING EDUCATOR DIVERSITY PLAN

This comprehensive Increasing Educator Diversity Plan was developed in collaborative partnership with the Bethany, Orange, Woodbridge, and Amity school districts, fostering a collective commitment to promoting inclusivity and embracing diversity within the educational landscape.

BOE Approved April 2024

Revised Oct 2024
CSDE Approved November 2024

View full educator diveristy Plan

Board of Education Core Value Statements

WE BELIEVE the district should nurture a community of learners who embrace individual and cultural differences, valuing how differences enrich society.

WE BELIEVE that all learners should have access to the resources necessary to achieve their fullest educational potential with the full support of a community of leaders.

WE BELIEVE that learners must belong to and feel supported in their learning environment for them to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.

Climate Survey Reports

These reports present key findings from our annual climate surveys, which yield valuable insights into our district's learning environment. The surveys are conducted across all schools and aim to evaluate the perceptions of students, staff, and parents/families regarding the overall climate and inclusivity.

Our reports include data from each building, focusing on various subgroups and the perceptions of underrepresented groups. This ongoing survey process provides longitudinal insights that support the development of school climate improvement plans.

These reports guide our continuous efforts to build safe, positive, and inclusive learning environments across the district and help us track progress and identify areas for improvement year after year.

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In This Section

School Climate & Belonging

AMITY - WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS

AMITY'S GUIDING PRINCIPALS

Safety & Belonging

Safety & Belonging

Goals

Curriculum Inclusiveness

Curriculum Inclusiveness

Goals:

Cultivating Relationships

Cultivating Relationships

Goals:

RESOURCES & REPORTS

Amity's Increasing Educator Diversity Plan

INCREASING EDUCATOR DIVERSITY PLAN

Board of Education Core Value Statements

Climate Survey Reports

CLIMATE SURVEY REPORTS

CLIMATE PLANS

Ten Year Trend Demographic Report

TEN YEAR TREND DEMOGRAPHIC REPORT

Questions?

QUESTIONS?

Peter Downhour

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Links & Resources