High School Grade  Project 1 week

Compass Points: Building Our Stronger School Culture

Amy E
Updated
M 2
B-SS 2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1
B-SS 10
B-SS 7
+ 5 more
1-pager

Purpose

Students will examine how individual choices and differing Compass Points working styles shape collaboration and school culture. Across two 30-minute sessions, mixed-style teams will analyze culture-survey data, practice active listening and respectful disagreement, and test observable norms through conflict role-plays with feedback from peers and a counselor or social worker. They will revise and publish shared agreements through a School Culture Norms Wall, Culture Map, and brief role-play showcase. Before-and-after self and peer checks, along with reflection-wall evidence, will document growth in respect, participation, conflict response, inclusion, and teamwork.

Learning goals

Students will interpret culture survey and reflection data to identify patterns in respect, participation, conflict response, and belonging. They will use active listening, accountable talk, empathy, and respectful disagreement to collaborate effectively across Compass Points perspectives. Students will co-create, test, and revise observable group and schoolwide agreements using evidence, peer feedback, and conflict scenarios. They will reflect on how their actions shape an inclusive school culture and demonstrate growth through before-and-after self and peer assessments.

Standards
  • [ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors] M 2 - Sense of acceptance, respect, support and inclusion for self and others in the school environment
  • [ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors] B-SS 2 - Positive, respectful and supportive relationships with students who are similar to and different from them
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1 - Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9—10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
  • [ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors] B-SS 10 - Cultural awareness, sensitivity and responsiveness
  • [ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors] B-SS 7 - Leadership and teamwork skills to work effectively in diverse groups
Competencies
  • Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
  • Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.

Products

Students will create anonymous culture survey responses, simple data graphs, and a shared reflection wall documenting strengths, concerns, and observed healthy behaviors. Mixed Compass Points teams will draft color-coded group and schoolwide agreements with concrete examples and non-examples, then revise them using peer feedback from conflict-scenario rehearsals. The final products will be a School Culture Norms Wall and gallery-style Culture Map that combine survey evidence, reflection excerpts, and finalized agreements. Teams will also present a brief role-play showcase modeling active listening, respectful disagreement, conflict resolution, and application of the new norms.

Launch

Students complete a five-minute anonymous culture survey, then join mixed Compass Points groups to create a sticky-note Culture Map of school strengths, concerns, and examples of healthy behavior. A counselor or social worker shares key survey patterns, and groups discuss: “How can our actions and agreements help everyone feel safe, respected, and ready to contribute?” Teams test one brief collaboration-conflict scenario using active listening and respectful disagreement, then propose one observable group norm and one schoolwide norm. Students post their ideas on a shared reflection wall and complete a quick baseline self-and-peer check on respect, participation, and conflict response.

Exhibition

Host a schoolwide gallery walk where mixed Compass Points groups present the School Culture Norms Wall, Culture Map, survey graphs, reflection excerpts, and before-and-after growth evidence. Groups perform brief conflict scenarios twice—first showing the problem, then modeling how their revised norms support respectful disagreement and participation. Students, staff, and the counselor or social worker leave feedback and commit to one observable agreement. Close with student representatives sharing the final schoolwide norms and explaining how everyone contributes to a safe, inclusive, and productive culture.