PRESS RELEASE: Jerome Harrison Elementary School (JHS) in North Branford,  was just awarded a distinction for Exemplary School Climate by CAS (Connecticut Association of Schools). 

This recognition means that JHS is exemplary at offering staff, students, parents, and the community a safe, engaging, and positive environment to learn and grow.

JHS's positive school climate is characterized by a safe and welcoming school, a collaborative environment with shared decision-making, clear and consistent academic and social expectations, and parent and community involvement in the school.

In order to receive this distinction, JHS was first recognized for exemplary practices and recommended to CAS. Next, JHS stakeholders (students, parents, staff, and community members) completed a climate self-assessment. Lastly, the school was visited by a CAS committee to validate school climate. 

It was during the site visit that the school really shined.  Students, staff, parents, and community members all spoke of the welcoming school environment, the consistent efforts made to involve and connect them to the school, and the sense of pride they all have for their school. 

During the visit, Regina Birdsell, CAS Assistant Executive Director for Elementary Services, commented, "The positive climate, sense of pride, and the creative efforts in volunteering and community involvement that Jerome Harrison has developed make them a school of distinction in Elementary School Climate and a school that other communities can learn from."

JHS Principal Carter Welch said, "The school has worked very hard to improve the climate over the last couple of years and this distinction from CAS is a wonderful recognition of the staff, student, parent, and community's effort to make Jerome Harrison a sense of pride for North Branford". 

Carter also said some of the exemplary practices that make JHS special include the Dream Team (a group of over 20 high school student mentors that consistently work with JHS students on character, academics, and social expectations); student led school-community KIND assemblies (where students perform and are recognized for following social and academic expectations); teachers' efforts in welcoming parents and community volunteers into the classrooms for blended learning experiences; an emerging student leadership program and a "wonderfully supportive" parent and PTO community partnering with school experiences.

All members of the JHS community are proud of the recognition and will continue to work hard to sustain the positive school climate that they currently have.  They also look forward to other schools visiting JHS to see their positive climate in action and to learn more about their exemplary practices. 

For more information on the recognition, visit casciac.org or contact Principal Carter Welch at cwelch@northbranfordschools.org.