|  | | MESPA Home > Resources for Principal Leadership > Wakanheza > Albany Elementary: one school's journey |  | | Albany Elementary: one school's journey | |  | | Some of Albany's "Wakanheza Kids." |
Ann Schultz, principal
Albany Elementary
To view a gallery of Wakanheza photos from Albany Elementary, scroll to the bottom of this page.
May 2008 -- Albany Elementary staff and students have embraced Wakanheza in our school. We began our adventure with staff training provided by Debra Landvik, from the Minnesota Department of Education. She visited our school on two different days and trained our staff on the Wakanheza principles. Debra helped us determine how we would carry out this new philosophy in our building.
Starting in November 2007 we held assemblies for all the students about one time/month. The theme of our assemblies focused on one of the four Wakanheza attributes that we would be learning about and practicing throughout the month. We had students perform skits to teach the other students about the attribute. A “Wakanheza Handbook” containing ideas that could be implemented in classrooms was given to each teacher.
Wakanheza is discussed at every staff meeting. Staff has an opportunity to share Wakanheza moments they have observed or been a part of. This has led to some good discussions about changes that need to be made. Students in grades 3-6 completed a survey in the fall and will complete the same survey in the spring. We are hoping to determine the effectiveness of Wakanheza in our school.
We have a Wakanheza “Wall of Honor” on which students names are placed when they  | | Students at Albany Elementary helped put the finishing touches on their “Wakanheza Garden” on Thursday, May 29. Students in each grade level battled the rain to plant flowers. Most students also brought rocks to place in the garden as a border. The garden was created as a symbol to honor the students’ hard work. It is something they can be proud of and serves as a visual reminder of what our school is committed to do. School staff members have volunteered to water and weed the garden over the summer. |
are observed being supportive, protective and/or cherishing or respecting one another. We have a number of classrooms/grade levels who decorated their areas with anti-bullying slogans. Everyone in the school signed a no bullying poster that hangs in the lobby. As a constant reminder, we have our Wakanheza symbol/structure in the lobby. This was designed and made by our art teacher, various staff members, and the husband of our adminstrative assistant with some painting help from some of our students.
School staff have made a concentrated effort to make parents feel more comfortable in our school. Written communication with parents is more intentional and an attempt is made to communicate in a non-judgemental welcoming way. Due to information gathered through our Wakanheza discussion, we provided child care for conferences so parents can conference with teachers without distractions.
Focusing on the Wakanheza attributes of support, protect, cherish, and respect has given the staff of our building common language to use with students. Students hear these words from classroom teachers; specialists such as art, music, phy. ed., media; education assistants; kitchen staff; office staff; and the principal. Students have started using this terminology with each other as well.
Although it will take a few years to fully make this a part of daily life at Albany Elementary, we are pleased with the progress we have made thus far.
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Image Gallery:
Wakanheza at Albany Elementary
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