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About Mission: SOS - MSJHS team promotes Health and Wellness
Founded at MSJHS in 2007, the first SOS team of Sandy Prairie, Merri Blum, Cary
Masatsugu, 2 parents and 3 sophomore students has grown to include a dedicated
leadership core of a dozen students and an equal number of administrators,
parents, and teachers. In 2008 the team changed its name to Mission: SOS,
expanding with a core student leadership of around a dozen balanced by an equal
number of administrators, parents, and teachers.
Mission: SOS team members range throughout the year from 5 – 40 students
depending on the Research Project or Outreach Event. Outreach Events are given
at MSJHS, feeder schools, and other schools and organizations in the Bay Area.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to support a school environment that nurtures integrity,
academic engagement, connectedness and well being.
Results:
3 Years of student-driven changes, yet Mission retains its national reputation
as one of the “best” high schools in America:
- A 20% increase in students who have a trusted
adult on campus they can go to if they need help.
2010 Stanford/ Mission: SOS data, this vital
connection reduces cheating and increases health and
well being
- MSJHS no longer includes class rank on the
transcript. Encourages colleges to look at the
whole transcript, 25 of the 2009 valedictorians
supported this change
- Advisory Pilot Program with a health and
wellness focus. Teachers connect with students on
topics from health and wellness to time management
- 4 Outreach Events per year targeting root causes
of our student stress: College Admissions, Health
and Wellness Issues, and Expectations. Outreach
and Information
Process: The Mission: SOS leadership team
gathers research from the Mission community of students,
faculty, staff, and parents to identify the root causes
of student distress within the community and target 1 or
2 areas of improvement. The team then researches
comprehensive educational research on stress,
achievement, child development, health and wellness, and
examines actions taken in similar high performing
schools across the country to help in those same
targeted areas. If an action looks promising and it has
the approval of representatives of all 4 stake holder
groups, then the team may make a recommendation for
change to school leaders.
After that, the process can get complicated. No
change happens without a lot of work! You have to speak
up and be counted. The loudest voice is often the
student voice.
Community Outreach: Mission: SOS also offers outreach topics in target
areas to help reduce stress within the Mission community without lowering
achievement. Outreach events are free and open to the public and must be
approved by the Mission: SOS leadership board.
Stakeholder Groups
Student leadership: Because students feel the most stress but
traditionally have less power at home and on campus, empowering change and
starting dialogue needs to originate within the student population. Mission: SOS
students offer 4 – 6 public Outreach Events per year addressing root causes of
distress ranging from health and wellness issues to de-stressing college
admissions. Student presence at events ranges from 50 – 400 (Capacity of the
room) depending on the topic offered. Interested in joining SOS as a student
team member or officer? Contact a teacher, administrator or send an email to
msjsos@gmail.com
Administrators, Teachers and Counselors: Teachers and administrators at
Mission have increased their on-campus presence despite dwindling resources and
larger class sizes. Some teachers are choosing to alter homework policies,
becoming aware of assessment demands from other classes, and encouraging
students to communicate more often. Groups of teachers and faculty members have
had opportunities to attend conferences that include the SOS principles adopted
by the school. A group of teachers developed and piloted a program during the
“read” period which enriches the student experience by teaching time management
and awareness, stress management and strengthening connections between adults
and students on campus.
- There has been a 16% increase in the number
of students who feel connected to an adult on campus
giving them someone they can go to if they need
help. More than 165 students feel connected in 2010!
- Student perceptions of engagement and
meaningful work have all increased from 2007 – 2010
- Student anxiety and worry has decreased from
2007 - 2010
Administrators and teachers continue to form the heart of the Mission: SOS Team
developing and incorporating recommendations from the team into the WASC plan,
allowing Mission: SOS to offer surveys to the educational community to evaluate
and assess how well this program and others are working at MSJHS and
facilitating access to appropriate programs for the Mission community.
Parents and Funding: Mission: SOS is supported by private funding,
Mission Possible and will be applying for specific grants in 2009-2010. Parents
help plan evening events, visit and network with other area Challenge Success
schools, mentor student leaders and team members attend conferences, do research
and develop a strong campus presence keeping the Mission Community informed and
making opportunities and information available to parents in the Bay Area.
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