Community Building for School Transformation
As a Music Teacher at North Country Union High School, I had a problem – the band was shrinking. It was down to about a third of its former glory. At this point, I decided to bring in community members to fill in the missing parts. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Community members joined us, we learned from each other, and we had enlightening conversations. I wondered if there was a way to do this throughout the school. Along with a group of teachers, administrators, and students, we found a way.
After much group work, study, conversation, and observation, North Country Union High School’s first Celebration of Learning was a resounding success. It showcased the remarkable achievements of our students and forged a spirit of pride and collaboration. This event brought students, educators, and community members together and highlighted a variety of student projects and presentations.
The event’s success was driven by strong student engagement and ownership. Students spoke confidently and proudly about their work, and many expressed that they preferred this format over traditional Student-Led Conferences. Student conversations with community members, parents, teachers, and administrators underscored the strong support network for student learning and helped to build meaningful connections. Positive feedback from community members suggests that future events will have an even wider reach.
This first step in greater community involvement leads us to the next step: the founding of the North Country Alumni Association. Although in its early stages, this association will be involved in helping our students succeed through scholarships, event funding, guest lecturing, work-based learning opportunities, and overall pride in what goes on at NCUHS.