Lots of reminders around school about the end-of-year celebrations. These milestones are huge in the lives of students, and their teachers as well. In recent weeks we have planned for the last dance, the talent show, the Health Symposium (a draw for community partners and families), final exams, summer school classes and of course, graduation. And yet next year is already looming. It’s easy when looking forward to the break to look past the necessary conversations that need to take place in order to begin the next year with a clear vision. At our school, we are keeping our heads in the game by identifying the essential questions we’ll be using schoolwide next year. We gathered proposed questions from teachers and students and then put it to a vote by the whole school. Here are the winners for next year:
1. What is race, and does race matter?
2. Can you buy your way to happiness?
3. Who am I? Why do I matter?
4. How do interactions affect your life?
5. Health is …