As part of our mission to create diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning, Distinctive Schools is designing more equitable schools through an intentional shift away from traditional or punitive disciplinary measures. We are proud to practice Restorative Justice, a method of conflict resolution that values relationships as the cornerstone of each student’s educational journey. When issues arise, we believe in creating a safe space for diverse perspectives to be heard, paving the way for healing and growth.
Relationship building is at the heart of Distinctive Culture. When we say All Means All, we mean educating the whole child, including supporting students when they make mistakes. Mistakes are part of life, and our goal is to help students learn through them.
What is Restorative Justice?
We recognize that when harm occurs in our community, that harm must be repaired. It is important to us that students take accountability for their actions and search for solutions to move forward. Consequences are not personal, but they are personalized. The consequence must make sense to the student based on the action for it to be effective. Restorative practices are used in our schools to decrease disciplinary issues and disruptions and serve as an alternative to harmful, exclusionary practices such as suspension and expulsion.
Restorative Justice values relationships at the center of school and community life. When harm happens, these relationships create space for multiple perspectives to be heard in order to repair harm. We work to establish a strong foundation of trust, respect, and communication with our students.
You may be wondering, what exactly is Restorative Justice and what does it look like at [SCHOOL NAME]?
We sat down with our CICS Loomis Dean, Ms. La Vigne for a few questions about Restorative Justice at our school.
Read more about Restorative Practices here. We are so grateful to the incredible student support team at CICS Loomis for their commitment to restorative practices. We thank you for the care you bring to our schools, students, and communities every day!
MEET YOUR DEAN: What does a Dean do?
I am a relationship builder and influencer. My daily mission is to bond with students, connect with their families, and promote a safe and welcoming school environment. It begins every morning with a greeting, a hug, a fist bump, or just a smile. A simple gesture that helps students feel their value when they walk through the door.
As the day progresses, I guide student behavior, incorporating the pre-work of building relationships. Acknowledging and actively listening to students when things are peaceful and calm establishes a foundation of trust when helping them to make better choices after an infraction. Time, follow through and consistency, are my commitments; they are needed investments that support our students’ social and emotional development. I maintain realistic boundaries, clarify school expectations and hold each child accountable for his/her level of understanding.
Students are curious and genuinely interested in the world around them. Being available to address some of their basic needs contributes to a child’s self-worth. It gives them the confidence to better focus and self-regulate as they develop. As Dean, I spend more time on the front end of shaping behavior so there’s less time spent correcting it on the back end.
While student learning is gravely important during these primary years, my work is to seed positive influence and support in their behavioral growth and development for life.
I work to build student relationships that will build their confidence, so they can someday build a life of excellence and high achievement.
WHY WE CHOOSE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: The theory.
The value of Restorative Justice is its ability to build character, while problem solving. It provides all parties a space to repair what has been broken, without breaking one’s spirit. It is further a correction and life lesson designed to rebuild, reshape and repair. It helps students learn empathy, accountability, responsibility, effective communication, forgiveness (self & others), and redirection. Additionally it allows students the opportunity to think critically, speak, reflect, and reroute their actions.
Students inevitably will make wrong choices and bad decisions, but it should not define their next steps. Restorative Justice promotes a balance of emotional and analytical development that offers support for children who harm and those who have been harmed. The methodology works because it theoretically is intended to make everyone whole.
Restorative Justice’s greatest value rests in the fact that it works in and out of school, and can potentially reshape a mind, a family, and a community.
PUTTING THEORY INTO PRACTICE: What does Restorative Justice look like in our classrooms day to day?
Classroom restorative justice looks like the building of a community that exhibits kindness, empathy, equity, effective communication and opportunities for students to thrive. It’s full of possibilities that say everyone can achieve and exist in peace.
At CICS Loomis, we are strongly invested in the academic and social- emotional well-being and development of your children. Our goal is to educate them through a rigorous curriculum, shape their character with hope and possibility, and launch them into high achievement and greatness.