Resilience
“It's resilience, not IQ, that is the best predictor of success" ~ Angela Duckworth, University of Pennsylvania
Last spring, the Student Services Department launched a community podcast series, Royal-y Resilient, which discussed the 7 R’s of Resilience based on Dr. Ginsburg’s work Raising Resilient Children. Resilience is a critical skill for life success and we are committed to help foster its development in our students. We want every Royal to be equipped for success wherever their future takes them. #ReadyToGo
This fall, HBR was invited to participate in a Trauma Responsive Schools-Designation (TRS-D) pilot study being conducted by The Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR) at Ann & Robert H. Children’s Hospital of Chicago. These organizations are working to support schools to become trauma-responsive and to evaluate how they can best support schools in achieving this designation. The HBR Trauma Responsive Schools pilot team members are: Julie Melnyk, HBRES Principal, Mallory Wassmann, HBRES Social Worker, Beth Ferguson, School Psychologist, Tara Neidigh, HBRMS/HSBRHS Social Worker, Jessica Sonntag, Director of Student Services, and Matt Kantor, HBRHS Counselor. This team has been working with a consultant from the CCR to develop an action plan for becoming a Trauma Responsive Schools site.
What does it mean to be a trauma-responsive school?
Trauma-responsive schools use proactive and restorative, rather than punitive, practices to build the self-regulation skills of students. Self-regulation increases our capacity to communicate, manage conflict and act in productive ways in the midst of challenge and stress. The ability to self-regulate behavior is one of the most important protective factors in being resilient.
Why do we want our schools to be trauma-responsive?
While HBR’s primary service to our community is to provide academic instruction, in order to reach this goal, children must feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. A trauma-responsive school recognizes that trauma affects our staff, students, families, and communities. According to the research, approximately 25% of all school-aged children have experienced some form of trauma. We know that 100% of HBR students and staff have experienced some impact of the stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stressed brains do not learn the same as brains that feel safe, can emotionally regulate, and feel connected. Trauma-responsive schools create an environment for students where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.
How do we become trauma-responsive?
To become trauma-responsive, we must first become trauma-Informed. Our next step is to launch a One Book-One District book study. Through the TRS-D pilot study, we are provided with a mini-grant that will allow us to take this important step in creating common understanding and vocabulary. In January, we will begin reading Relationship, Responsibility, and Regulation: Trauma-Invested Practices for Fostering Resilient Learners by Kristin Sours and Pete Hall. Every staff member and Board of Education member will be provided with a copy of the book and will be invited to participate in book discussions led by the HBR TRS-D pilot team. More in-depth discussion and implementation planning will occur at our March institute day.
How can the community participate?
As we discussed in the podcast series last spring, while it is not its own “C”, community plays an essential role in the development of resilience. Our young community members gain valuable skills through connecting and contributing to the community. They develop resilience through interactions with adults who believe in them unconditionally and hold them to high expectations of being compassionate, generous, and creative. Therefore we invite you, our community, to learn more about how you can influence our students by reading Relationship, Responsibility, and Regulation: Trauma-Invested Practices for Fostering Resilient Learners by Kristin Sours and Pete Hall.
Hope you can join us in this journey.
Sincerely,
Jessica Sonntag
HBR Director of Student Services