You're aiming to transform school culture. How can you engage students in shaping it through communication?

Communication is the key. Wherever there is open communication, there will be learning and development. Students are the most affected stakeholder in any changes to the curriculum or culture. Thus there is an important need to ascertain their views before any changes are effected. Students should be made comfortable and encouraged to give out their views. This will happen when they know that you are sincere and value their views. You may be able to get an absolutely new perspective which you may not have thought of.

If you want students to help you reform school culture, first create a safe space. A lot of times, students do not speak up because they fear what their teachers will say or the consequences of speaking their mind.  Show them that there is space through any feedback or through open dialog. Ensure that anything they feel can better the school and everyone in it will have no consequences. Also, ensure you do this and not just say. When the students trust you, they will respect you when it comes to school culture reform too.

As someone who has worked to transform school culture, I've found that actively engaging students in shaping it through clear, consistent communication is key. Establish regular forums for student feedback and input - this gives them ownership and helps ensure initiatives resonate. Keep an open dialogue, address concerns promptly, and celebrate student-driven successes. It takes work, but student collaboration is invaluable for lasting, positive change.

Mengubah budaya sekolah membutuhkan keterlibatan siswa secara aktif. Misal, cara 1, buatlah forum komunikasi dua arah, seperti pertemuan mingguan atau bulanan, di mana 10-15 siswa dari berbagai kelas berbicara tentang harapan dan tantangan mereka. Cara ke-2, gunakan platform digital untuk jajak pendapat atau ide kreatif siswa tentang kegiatan sekolah yang mereka inginkan. Ceritakan kisah sukses seorang siswa yang berani mengemukakan ide dan melihat idenya diterapkan, sehingga siswa lain merasa termotivasi.

Find the leaders in the student community, the students who participate with passion, the ones who share their perspectives, the ones who believe they can influence change. Those are the changemakers. You need to empower them to be the designers of the culture change. Facilitate their problem-solution brainstorms, map out the progress markers with them, and be their ear when the emotional work of being an active participant in community culture change becomes draining and disappointing. Champion their initiatives, arrange opportunities (meeting with the school board, a reel on the school's IG account), and invest energy in their potential as leaders. Your role as the adult is to guide, not lead.

This all starts with safety in the body, then our nervous systems can send cues of safety to others and this creates a foundation for communication. Start where we all need to start! Inclusivity of self. If we cannot connect meaningfully to ourselves, we will not be able to connect to others. Giving tools to students that help them to stay embodied (not check out by scrolling, video games, etc) then we set them up for successfully navigating communication which requires being present, Skillful listening, being able to communicate back to someone what they’ve shared to help them feel seen and heard.

- Begin by establishing open channels of communication, such as regular forums, suggestion boxes, and social media platforms, where students can share their ideas and feedback. - Actively involve students in decision-making processes, from planning events to developing new initiatives, ensuring their voices are integral to shaping the school’s culture. - Celebrate student achievements, both big and small, through assemblies, newsletters, and social media shout-outs to foster a sense of pride and community. - Highlight stories of success and resilience, showcasing how individual efforts contribute to the collective spirit of the school.