Knowing Every Student
As we do every year, the faculty started the semester a day before the students. All teachers and advisors sit together for a full day. The topic? Our students. Over the course of the day, we talk through each student – reviewing academic performance, engagement outside the classroom, and social connections. It’s a chance to share observations, talk about support students might need in the coming semester, and celebrate growth and successes. I’m consistently impressed by how well these teachers know the kids and by the number of voices speaking up about each student. Certainly we hear stories and reflections from each student’s advisor and classroom teachers. We also, though, hear from adults in the community with less direct daily contact but who have managed to form a connection.
Too often in schools, it is only the students who are struggling in some way who get attention from the adults. I’m proud to be part of a place where we take the time to talk about every kid. Every young person deserves to be known and loved – the one central promise we make to our families when they join BUA. We work hard to live up to that each day.