May 6th, 2014

A Safe, Caring and Inclusive School (SCIS) is a place where all partners – students, staff, parents, and community members treat one-another fairly, with respect and kindness, and act in a socially responsible way towards all members of the school community. It is an inclusive community where diversity is affirmed within a framework of common values, and where all members participate in decision making and cooperate to promote the well–being of all. High expectations exist so that students are engaged academically, socially and intellectually. Studies emphasize the contribution of a positive learning environment to student success.

Before schools can build and/or strengthen a safe, caring and inclusive school culture, they need to get greater insight to the existing culture. Safe, Caring and InclusiveSchools surveys will assist schools in understanding and describing the current school culture while identifying areas for improvement. It is important to ensure that representatives from all sectors of the school and its community participate in any type of survey or assessment.

The generally accepted factors that comprise school climate include: relationships between students, and between students and staff; teaching and learning environment; school safety and the physical school environment.

Three groups are being surveyed: students in grades 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11, school staff and parents/guardians.

The SCIS Survey for PARENTS/GUARDIANS can be accessed through the Waterloo Region District School Board website at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SCIS_ParentGuardian

 or via a link posted on the school’s website at the top right hand side of the home page.

Responses to the surveys are anonymous and confidential.

All Surveys will be open beginning on May 1, 2014 and will close on May 31, 2014.

 We would like to encourage all A.R. Kaufman parents to participate in this important survey. If you have difficulty accessing a computer, please call the school office, and we would be more than happy to give you access to a school computer to complete the parent survey.