Adams Elementary
The Friendly Neighborhood School
Diversity at Adams
Staff Diversity
Adams is committed to achieving staff role models that reflect racial, gender and cultural differences. At all levels the Adams community seeks to engage in courageous conversations about race and other differences. Students at Adams come from rich cultural traditions. Classroom activities honor these through exploration of the value and importance of cultural, racial, linguistic, physical, learning style and personality diversity. An active staff committee on cultural competence examines aspects of diversity and promotes activities such as a racism free zone, human dignity week, and specialized staff training opportunities.
Tribes Curriculum
The Tribes Curriculum is an adopted school – wide curriculum that focuses on a sense of belonging, valuing differences, and working together creatively. Adams teachers are specially trained in its use. It is designed with agreements and age appropriate exercises that develop a sense of inclusion, affirmation, communication, and community in the school environment. A copy of the curriculum and video presentation about Tribes is available in the school office.
MLK Week
Adams uses a school wide service model that operates year round but is particularly emphasized during the period leading up to Martin Luther King holiday. Each classroom and individual students undertake social service projects that range broadly from volunteering in local food drives, service with social justice organizations, assistance to needy community programs, fundraising efforts, and apprenticeships. The week culminates in an assembly featuring music, poetry, literature, art, and guest speakers.
Human Dignity Week
Adams classrooms enjoy special presentations by individuals invited from the broader community. There are events that can include story telling, historical accounts, presentations by ethnic groups, special library projects, social justice discussions, classroom research efforts, and other integrated elements of the curriculum that examine wide ranging aspects of the human experience with an emphasis on expanding each student’s cultural horizons and understanding.
Positive Behavior System-4 Bee’s
The Adams environment is one that reminds students and staff of the importance of safety, respect, kindness and responsibility in all interactions. Staff have special training in positive behavior support. Individual students and classrooms get “aha” slips for particularly noteworthy positive behaviors. Accumulations of a certain number of aha slips brings rewards such as class parties, special play times, outings with teachers, and other kudos. Classrooms also compete for claiming a monthly attendance trophy.
Trained Adams fourth and fifth graders take time from lunch, recess and classes to help other students who have conflicts. Teachers applaud the mediation process because it increases their teachable moments by reducing time spent helping students resolve interpersonal conflicts. For mediators the “boredom factor” can be difficult, because Adams is such a peaceful environment that mediators are often without conflicts to work on.
Opportunities for Parent Involvement
Parents with a special interest in diversity issues are welcome on the Adams Race Matters Parents and Principal’s Committee, which meets jointly with the Adams Cultural Competency Staff Committee monthly. Contact the principal for dates, venue and times.
Parents interested in teaching peacemaking skills can join the parent’s team for training and coordinating Peer Mediators or volunteer for special assignments. Contact the Principal to contact the parents coordinating team convener.
Learning About and Respecting a
Diverse, Interconnected and Sustainable World