Our Words Matter: Care and Respect at Parkview

Bellingham Public Schools board of directors recently visited Parkview Elementary School along with the district’s executive team and Superintendent Greg Baker.  

One of the themes this school year is a phrase from the mission of The Bellingham Promise. “We collectively commit that our students are cared for and respected…”  

Principal Stephanie Johnson and assistant principal Erica Rasmussen shared ways students and staff feel and show care and respect, including an exercise with paper hearts. Students and staff write by hand on the paper hearts how they can show care and respect at school and/or what makes them feel cared for and respected.  

Examples included first bumps, hugs, smiles, being included by friends, good manners and people checking in with them.  

Parkview admin led families through the heart activity at their first PTO meeting of the year asking parents/guardians what words and actions have made their family feel cared for and respected.

During the board visit, Johnson and Rasmussen also talked about the benefits they are seeing among students and teachers with inclusion. Inclusionary practices mean including students who are served in Special Education within general education classrooms to the greatest extent possible. Johnson said it’s exciting to see students more connected with each other and creating community across Parkview.  

“We’re looking to achieve the best outcome: happy students and high expectations,” Johnson said.  

Johnson shared that by working closely as a staff, they have been able to dismantle silos within the school to a more intentional, collaborative approach with Special Education and general education teachers working more closely together. But they can’t do it alone.  

“Paraeducators are key in providing support to our kids, especially those with complex needs,” Johnson said.  

Teachers and students shared with the board key takeaways from recent dehumanizing lessons across Parkview and the theme “our words matter.” Parkview staff said many students engage in lessons around discovering their identities as a way to celebrate similarities and differences.