Equity and Diversity

FPS has worked to establish Social and Civic Expectations PK-12 + to provide a framework which is woven throughout the curriculum.

High School Social and Civic Expectations

Elementary Schools focus on helping to make these expectations happen through the use of:

• Responsive Classroom social skill focus-CARES-Cooperation, Responsibility, Empathy and Self-Control
• Restorative Practices to help students deal with developing logical consequences and apologies of action
• Mindfulness Strategies to help students deal with difficult choices and feelings
• Use of the Health Curriculum-Second Steps Units to teach anti-bullying and problem solving to students and ways to deal with their feelings.

Middle Schools focus on helping to make these expectations happen through the use of:

• Restorative Practices to help students deal with developing logical consequences and apologies of action
• Mindfulness Strategies to help students deal with difficult choices and feelings
• 6th grade has a presentation in September around kindness and bullying.
• RLMS runs a Student Assistance Team (SAT). Student leaders run a six week character ed program. Students are paired with faculty mentors to go into 6th grade classrooms throughout the year. Character traits highlighted are Reliable and Trustworthy, Polite and Respectful, Tolerant and Kind, Resourceful and Persevering and being Considerate.
• Practices weekly mindfulness with ALL students and staff. Activities are consistent throughout all grade levels.
• Expectation meetings with Admin and Dean in Fall and early spring.
• Participates in Risky Business Day.
• Participates in Women’s History Writing Contest
• Had a motivational speaker speak this year whose emphasis was on making good decisions.
• Ran a veterans day assembly in grade 8.
• Ran the Pink Pledge to raise money for breast cancer research.
• Student expectation assemblies are held twice each year (September and January) where bullying / harassment is addressed.
• 8th graders participate in “Risky Business” which focuses on getting them ready for high school and there is a significant component presented by the Fairfield Police Department regarding cyber bullying and maintaining a safe web presence. The 8th graders at Woods participated in “Risky Business” today.
• Our school theme is “Choose Kind” and we end each morning announcement with that exhortation to the students.
• Activities throughout the year both in school and after school that foster inclusion and acceptance of everyone’s differences. The student council hosts the majority of these events.
• School Climate Committee that is comprised of teachers, students, parents and Administrators.
• Quarterly Citizenship Award and Top Dog program.
• Student Leadership Club that attends an annual Student Leadership Conference hosted by the CT Associates of Schools.
• The Sandy Hook Promise “Start with Hello” is one example from this past school year.

Preschools Schools focus on helping to make these expectations happen through the use of:

• All preschool classrooms receive regular whole group social skills instruction from a school psychologist or social worker focused on self-regulation, social engagement, self-advocacy, etc. Strategies are communicated to parents and a parent group is offered monthly to support carryover of skills between school and home.
• Curriculum includes unit on families-Families come in and share a favorite activity or tradition
• The “Bucket-Filler” program teaches and celebrates kind and helpful behavior at home and in school
• Monthly Colors for Caring collections teach our students how to support those in need in our community (collections for Operation Hope, animal shelters, U.S. Troops, etc.)
• We provide professional development to community preschools 2x annually to share skills for supporting students with learning, behavior or communication delays in community programs

Each unit focuses on: Skills, Empathy, Emotion Management, Problem Solving

Fairfield Warde hosted the first equity conference in the spring of 2017, along with invited schools FLHS and a high school from Bridgeport.

The 2018-2019 school year marked the third annual conference and it has now become a statewide conference. The 2019 conference was held at Fairfield University and included school districts from across the region and state.

In 2018 Warde students traveled to San Diego to share the progressive work they are doing through their Identity and Education Conference, and on-going work in FPS schools.

The students have also hosted a culturally responsive professional development for teachers.

Fairfield Citizen Article: Warde students host statewide equity conference at Southern Connecticut State University

2018-2019 Results
94.44% of FPS Parent/Guardians feel that their children are taught to respect individual difference

Diversity activities are held across the district and celebrates individual differences from race, gender, ethnicity, and special needs.

Roger Sherman Elementary won the 2019 Jan Harp Domene Award

                                                                                  More Activities: FWHS Activities FLHS Activities                                                       

Administrators

• March 2017 - Berchem, Moses & Devlin, PC Civil Rights & Bullying Complaint Investigations
• June 2018 - Dr. Bill Howe Awareness of Racial and Cultural Sensitivity
• August 2018 - Dr. Bill Howe Awareness of Racial and Cultural Sensitivity
• March 2019 - Attorney Peter Maher with Shipman and Goodwin Bullying and Harassment Complaint procedures