Within the first few weeks of school, students and staff came together for an assembly on the sense of belonging at PHS and MHS. Organized by assistant principal Joseph Marik and DEIB director Jean Takazawa, the audience heard from students and staff on the importance of belonging, and how to cultivate a welcoming and inclusive school community.
On Aug. 29 and Sept. 12, underclassmen and upperclassmen were split up, watching an assembly on belonging during one academy period, then participating in a sharing circle during another academy.
“First and foremost I just want to create conversation about belonging, if something happens that makes someone feel left out, we’re not going to assign blame or punish anyone, but more just think on how we can improve for the future,” Marik said.
Marik said that belonging is a key part of students’ experience in high school.
“I really do care about setting everyone up to be successful with whatever their post high school plans are. And have learned over time the importance of just how one feels as part of their high school to both let them be themselves, learn and focus in the way that they need so that they can, you know, take whatever steps they want to take,” Marik said.
Junior Colin Amen, who spoke in the assembly, said a belonging environment is essential for the school community to continue to thrive.
“If everyone feels like they belong, and everyone is participating in activities at the school, we as a community are uplifted,” Amen said.
Amen said that belonging can be interpreted in different ways, and that he believes that valuing the differences in others is what makes everyone in the community feel connected.
“Belonging is truly valuing what others bring to the table and trying to learn from people who have different experiences from you, because we can all learn a lot from each other, and if people recognize that everyone brings value to our community, and can come to appreciate the differences and all the unique members of our community, I think that’s when people start to feel like they belong,” Amen said.
Amen said he was happy with the audience’s engagement and participation in the assembly.
“I think that people, a lot of people in the audience, were a lot more willing to participate than I thought,” Amen said.
Additionally, junior Miles Lee said he thought the assembly and the conversations held during academy were very valuable.
“The assembly was great just to hear other people’s experiences, and see that the administration really values our experience at high school,” Lee said. “The time during academy was great just for connecting with classmates that I usually don’t talk to, and hearing what they have to say.”
Lee also said that he was impressed with the response from the students after the assembly.
“I was surprised by how well people took the assembly. Normally, after the assembly set, I’d hear a lot of people criticizing it or wondering what the point was,” Lee said. “But with this assembly, I feel like most people recognized it as a positive thing, and that stood out to me as a good change.”
Amen said the assembly helped to challenge the student body to help everyone feel like they belong.
“Everybody must have felt a little bit challenged to think about how we’re all responsible for creating an environment here at PHS where everyone feels like they belong,” Amen said.
Amen said he does his best to do his part in cultivating the sense of belonging on campus.
“I acknowledge that everyone at PHS doesn’t feel like they belong,” Amen said. “I try to smile at people, ask how they’re doing, and do all the small things that can be very important in creating a sense of belonging for everyone.”
