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2025 Designing Our Own Learning
DOOL-ing it at the 7th Summer Institute In 2025, our Designing Our Own Learning (DOOL) program has extended its transformative impact with our summer institute held at Talley High School. We now serve students and educators at 75% of the middle schools in the Renton School District – Dimmitt, McKnight, and Risdon! DOOL brings students…
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Learning Together with Team Read
Supporting Teen Reading Coaches and younger readers through relationship-centered practice We are proud to have launched a year-long partnership with Team Read, an organization that empowers teens as literacy tutors for elementary students. Our two organizations are grounded in shared values, and a commitment to equity, literacy, and youth leadership. Team Read invited BELONG Partners…
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School Discipline Data Points to the Need for Self-Regulation Skills
Terminal Park Elementary School in Auburn, WA is one of our Whole School partners. They have an active Data Team made up of staff who are leading the implementation of BELONG Partners work at their school. Data Teams in our partner schools gather and analyze discipline data – which is documentation of when a student…
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Creating a School Culture of Belonging through Staff Support and Family Engagement
At Silver Lake Elementary, in Federal Way, WA, Principal Kelly Sutton and her team are committed to cultivating lifelong learners who are exceptionally prepared to be the leaders of the future. The Silver Lake core values of perseverance, growth mindset, and high expectations, paired with high support, are the foundation of their vision. To achieve…
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Nooksack Elementary Kindergartners Skillfully Shine During Their Problem-Solving Class Meetings
Phi Bean is a kindergarten teacher at Nooksack Elementary School in Everson, WA, part of the Nooksack Valley School District. She has been teaching kindergarten there for seven years and knows firsthand the importance of social-emotional learning for kids this age. We asked Ms. Bean to share the impact of working with BELONG Partners in…
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Building a Community of Belonging at Midway Elementary
Collaborative Solutions for Emotional Growth Meet Midway Elementary, a Vibrant and Diverse School Located in the Highline School District, Midway Elementary is a vibrant example of diversity and resilience. The school’s principal, Lyon Terry, leads a team dedicated to educating 570 students from pre-K through 5th grade. Their unique dual language program teaches all students…
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Strengthening Family and School Partnership at Sunnycrest Elementary
Kelley Schottle is the Principal at Sunnycrest Elementary in the Federal Way, WA, School District. Schottle and her school staff participated in the BELONG Partners workshop Rooted Relationships: Growing Equitable Classroom Communities. After taking that workshop, Schottle was interested in other components of the BELONG Partners approach. She wanted to amplify authentic family partnership and…
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Mentor Teachers Provide Inspiration and Support for New Teachers
Kalmiopsis Elementary School in Brookings, Oregon, is in the third year of its journey to whole-school transformation in partnership with BELONG Partners. Roxana Amaral, BELONG Partners Director of Strategic Partnerships, describes Kalmiopsis as “an innovative school community who cares deeply about fostering the agency and voice of young people. Educators at Kalmiopsis are driven by…
