Byron-Bergen Central School District parents and students may be curious about what happened on February 17 when schools closed for Superintendent’s Conference Day. The conference day is an important opportunity for District administrators, teachers and staff to take part in school- and curriculum-based workshops and professional training.
In a continuation of the District’s commitment to innovative instruction, anti-bullying and character building (Byron-Bergen was designated a 2015-18 New York District of Character), the Junior/Senior High School featured guest speaker Jeanne Carlivati, a specialist in the use of restorative practices in education.
Restorative practices help schools stop school bullying and violence. They help students connect and communicate, cooperate as teams, develop leadership skills and build healthy relationships. Many conflicts are headed off as students, teachers and administrators come together to share stories and build community relationships. If harm is already done, restorative justice works as an alternative to suspension that restores peace and promotes healing.
“Building a positive school community and focusing on relationships are both essential to teaching, learning and overall school climate,” said Junior/Senior High School Interim Principal Patrick McGee. “Restorative practices are an alternative approach to proactively create a supportive environment and hold students accountable for misconduct in a practical way.”
Speaker Carlivati works with Partners in Restorative Initiatives (www.pirirochester.org), a local nonprofit specializing in restorative practices. She led Junior/Senior High School staff on an overview of how schools use restorative practices and then helped them create a community-building restorative circle. Participants shared their stories of how they found themselves together at Byron-Bergen Schools. “It was overwhelmingly positive and demonstrated the power of the strategy to bring people together,” said McGee.
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