Week 7

Welcome Back!

I hope you all had another great week, and Happy Friday! As I approach this final stretch of my project, I want to thank all of you for being dedicated followers of my posts over the course of the past two months. Your comments of encouragement have been greatly appreciated, and I hope everyone has a successful two months of school before Summer Break--I know...how exciting is that?! 

In this weeks post, I want to focus on an important aspect to have on campus in order to maintain a positive school culture. That is, there must always remain a sense of community. While on campus this week, this was something that I payed close attention to, especially while at last weekends annual school picnic. Even though I've been at BASIS Ahwatukee since it's doors first opened, I've seen things develop and changer over time that have allowed for a definite sense of community at our school. Having a sense of community is a feeling that has to be felt personally and isn't instilled overnight. The Eric Institute of Education Sciences released a study that stated that in order for students to have a sense of campus community, there must be a strive to build a community that (1) offers an environment where self expression is accepted and respected, (2) students and faculty are engaged in learning and teaching, (3) fosters positive relationships among ethnic and cultural groups through programs and student activities, (4) celebrates traditions and heritage of the institution, and (5) provides assistance to students when they feel lonely or depressed. One way in which both the Ahwatukee and DC campus address the first part (1), is by allowing their students to a certain degree, express themselves in an appropriate manner. The BASIS DC Gay Straight Alliance and the BASIS Ahwatukee Spectrums Club for LGBT+ and Allies, are both examples of programs in place that allow students a Safe Space for open self expression on campus (if you aren't familiar with Safe Space, click on the Safe Space link). As for (3), this is something that I've stressed the importance of throughout the course of my project. Even after talking with students and faculty from both campuses, BASIS as a whole tends to value the importance of positive relationships developing on campus. Especially those among a variety of ethnic and cultural groups prevalent of campus. Living in this current world has proven, at least for some ethnic and cultural groups, almost no chance of ever getting along. However, when you set foot on a BASIS campus and experience positive interactions between groups of people, where history has proven these groups to be in constant conflict, you are met with the challenge of how to maintain that positive engagement, and at times, you're given that chance to witness with your own eyes, one of the many beauties of life.  Along with this, two slightly differing forms of an International Night take place on both campuses. This is an opportunity for the school community to come out once a year, and experience a taste of the many cultures at that specific BASIS campus. There's always a variety of food, activities, informational presentation boards, and sometimes even music and dancing, where everyone gets the opportunity to experience a small portion of the culture of someone else who lives life from a slightly different angle. There is also the presence of a Leadership Club on both campuses. This is a student driven club in charge of planning school dances, spirit weeks, and organizing holiday grams along with a variety of other school activities. This gives students that chance to make the school their own and offer an appealing opportunity to students and faculty, as well as their families to get involved in. There are so many ways the different aspects of developing a sense of community are met by both of these not so vastly differing campuses. But, because I don't want you to read though a 1000 word blog post, I will leave you with what I have, and I look forward to presenting my last bits of information and findings over the course of these short and fast-coming few weeks. As always, thanks again for stopping by and have an amazing weekend!

Best, 

Eli