How could the high school experience be made better for students? Finding out was the goal of a student-led project at Huntsville High School (HHS) that turned students into researchers.
The HHS StAR (students as researchers) team, set in motion during the last school year by teachers Anthony Asturi and Vanessa Taylor, comprised eight students who exude leadership qualities: Noah Alexander, Khylie Brown, Camryn Greenleaf, Adrian Laksmono, Alana Murphy, Laura Rea, Marloes Strepel, and Jordan Taylor.
The StAR program was implemented to teach student leaders how to improve different aspects of student lives at high school, which in turn put the students in a position of leadership as researchers. StAR projects across the province were funded by the Ministry of Education to allow “staff and students to develop a sense of shared responsibility for the quality and conditions of teaching and learning, both within particular classrooms and more generally within the school community,” according to the Ministry’s website.
The students were sent to an OELC (Ontario Educational Leadership Centre) retreat in February 2017 to learn how to conduct collaborative inquiry research at their high school.
“We learned the basis of how to conduct a survey within our school to see how students are feeling about certain things,” says grade 11 student, Camryn Greenleaf. “We took this information and began meeting every Tuesday to brainstorm how to make our surveys.”
The eight-member HHS StAR team decided the two main topics they wanted to focus on were improving academics and school spirit, and dubbed themselves “The Hoya Movement”.
“Once the survey was finished we spent about a week going around to different classes to discuss our plan and what we were doing. We also showed students how to take the online survey. We kept it all anonymous unless the student wanted to be involved further,” says Greenleaf.
More than 600 students and staff responded to their survey, which included questions about safety in the school building, average grades, satisfaction with grades achieved, and gaining assistance from teachers.
HHS StAR team members (clockwise from back left) Laura Rea, Marloes Streppel, Adrian Laksmono, Noah Alexander, and Khylie Brown (supplied photo)
After the research was complete, the StAR group then analyzed their findings.
“It was found that the majority of students felt uncomfortable contacting teachers for help and that students wanted attention of teachers to be distributed further throughout the classroom,” says Greenleaf. They also found that the number of students wanting to participate in spirit days was significantly lower.
The team presented their findings to HHS staff as well as the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB).
Based on the survey results, the team set a goal of improving the well-being of students at HHS by “promoting success and inclusion in the school; teaching acceptance and respect for others; encouraging involvement in school events and spirit days; increasing Hoya pride; decreasing student anxiety; offering equal support to all students; and defining success as the student’s potential rather than percent grade,” noted a TLDSB meeting highlights newsletter.
While some members of the StAR team have graduated, “the remaining members plan to analyze the research found to create programs and events that will help students with their concerns raised in the surveys,” says Khylie Brown, a former team member who is now studying at Carleton University.
By carrying on with the program and analyzing the research, the StAR team hopes their programs and events will be helpful in improving current and future students’ experiences both academically and socially at Huntsville High School.
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I was particularly drawn to two touchstones in my life: inclusion; and acceptance and respect for others. If the majority of students embrace these goals, then the anxiety of the minority will be consequently diminished.
Sounds like a very worthwhile engagement for these students. In this world of collaboration it is important to learn consultation skills. They will be put to good use as they move forward in their lives.