WITH classes officially over, the teachers and staff of William S. Reyes Elementary School took the time off to assess their work this school year and plan ways to further improve their relationship with the students and their teaching methods.
WSR Principal Paz C. Younis led the more than 50 teachers and staff of the school at the peacebuilding workshop held Friday at Pacific Islands Club.
Younis said the workshop also aims to gather data for their programs that will be adopted for the next two to three years.
“The peacebuilders program is very important. This is going to help schools in terms of character education, student behavior and student achievement,” Younis said.
Each teacher is expected to integrate in their lessons whatever they have learned at the peacebuilders workshop, she said.
It is very important for teachers to respect their students, Younis said.
“If you respect the students they will also respect you. It’s also important for teachers to have a sense of humor. For them to be kind to students. Those are the kinds of things that we’re studying. We listen to what students are telling us,” Younis said.
WSR counselor Rebecca Flores said this is the second time that WSR teachers are undergoing a peacebuilders workshop. The first one was held to orient new teachers about the school and what students expect from them.
“The peacebuilders program is designed to improve the school climate by teaching skills, promoting social behavior, teaching kids that they have to settle their arguments in a peaceful manner. It’s a school climate program that works through the principal,” Flores said.
Flores said their goal during Friday’s workshop was to reduce incidents of aggression and hostility in the school.
The peacebuilders program is federally financed and is being implemented through the guidance of the Public School System.
Practically all schools on the islands are following the program. Flores said peacebuilders seminars are not limited to staff and faculty—students and parents also undergo the same program suited for their needs if the school thinks it is best for them.
WSR teachers were receptive to the workshop.
Lynette Villagomez, readers resource teacher at WSR, described the peacebuilders workshop as “a reminder on how we should be acting around students. Teachers should also be peacebuilders before we can expect students to be one.”
Chris Cabrera, also a teacher, thinks that the peacebuilders workshop is very important for teachers to be able to communicate effectively with their students.
