Monthly Journal Response

Instructions: At the end of each month in FOCUS, please think about

and respond to the provided theme of safe, caring and welcoming
schools. Please try to provide as much detail as possible in your
response so our staff can continue to improve our safe, caring and
welcoming school environment. We value everything you have to tell
us.
Format: Your journal response can take any format that best works for
you. You can respond in a journal response notebook, a vlog, a private
blog, dramatic production, song, poetry etc. Please discuss the format
of your submission with your FOCUS teacher to ensure you have all of
the necessary materials prior to beginning.
Please note: These responses will be read only by your FOCUS
teacher. They will not be shared with anyone else without your
permission.
Monthly Journal Themes Correlated to the Construct of Safe,
Caring and Welcoming Schools
Month
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May

Theme
PreAssessmentofSafe,CaringandWelcoming
Schools
StudentsandTeachersdemonstratingcareatthe
local,nationalandgloballevelresponseto
ChildrenFullofLifevideo
Teachersknowledgeofsubjectcontent,historyof
theschoolandchilddevelopment
Teachersinterestsinstudentslivesandlearning;
relationshipsandresponsiveschoolculture
SchoolCulture:howimportantisthehistoryof
ourschooltoourcurrentculture?Isourschool
cultureresponsivetoemergingneeds?
TeacherSkills:dialogue,receptiveandcritical
listening
Teacherdispositions:passioninsubjectarea.
TeacherSkills:modeling,confirmationand
reciprocatingcaringbehaviour
TeachersDisposition:respectingandtrusting
students,valuingrelationships
PostAssessmentofSafe,CaringandWelcoming
Schools

Construct
All
All
1:Teacher
Knowledge
2:Teacher
Dispositions
3:SchoolCulture
3:SchoolCulture
4:TeacherSkills
2:Teacher
Disposition
4:TeacherSkills
2:Teacher
Dispositions
All

September Journal Response

Pre-Assessment of Care
WelcometoGrade_____!!
Instructions:WelcometoJunior/SeniorHigh!Weareexcitedtogettoknowyou,your
interestsandtofindouthowyoufeelcaredfor,howyoucareforothersandhowyou
learn.Pleasefeelfreetoskipoveranyquestionsthatyoufeeluncomfortableanswering
oranyquestionsthatyoudonotknowtheanswersto.Pleasetakethissurveyhomeand
answeritwithyourparentshelpifyoufeelthatisnecessary.
1. Whatschooldidyouattendlastyear?

2. Whatwasyourfavouriteaspectofthatschool?
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. Doyoucurrentlytakeabustoschool?(Circleone)
Yes
No
4. AnswerifyoucircledYESto#3:Whenyouareonthebus,doyoufeelsafe?
(Circleone) Yes
No
Ifyouansweredno,pleaseletusknowwhy:
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
5. Ifyoudonottakethebustoschool,doyouwalkordoyougetaride?
_________________________________________________________________
6. Ifyouwalktoschool,doyoufeelsafe?Pleaseexplain.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7. Whatcanthestaffatthisschooldotomakeyoufeelwelcome?

8. Whatdoesbeingcaredformeantoyou?

9. Whatcanthestaffatthisschooldotomakeyoufeelcaredforatourschool?

10. Whatshouldstudentsatthisschooldotoshowthattheyarecaringindividualsat
alocal,nationaland/orgloballevel?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
11. Isthereanyinformationthatyouwouldliketosharewiththestaffwithregardsto
howyoulearn?(Example:areyouanxiousbeforeexams,doyouneedaquiet
spacetowork,doyoulikegroupworkordoyouprefertoworkonyourownetc.)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
12. Whatareyourinterestsinschool?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
13. Whatareyourinterestsoutsideofschool?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

14. Whatisonething(event,action,staffinitiative)thatyouwouldliketoseehappen
atourschooltomakeitamoresafe,caringandwelcomingcommunity?Howcan
youhelpusmakeithappen?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
15. Wehavemanyclubsandprogramscurrentlyrunningatourschool.Pleasecheck
offwhichonesyouaregoingtobejoiningtohelpcontinueoursafe,caringand
welcomingcommunity:

QueensBall
SportsTeams
StudentCouncil
StudentsAgainstSubstance
Abuse
AwardsNight
Graduation
SpiritActivities
McKenzieOlympics
FOCUS
BandConcerts

DramaProductions
FieldTrips
PinkShirtDay
OrangeShirtDay
SpecialPresentations
(WorkPlays,post
secondaryrecruitment
presentations,drumming
etc.)
AuthorVisits
Rodeo
MonthlyAssemblies

16. Areanyoftheaboveprogramsdetracting(takingaway)fromoursafe,caringand

welcomingenvironment?Ifso,pleaselistthem.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

17.Doyoufeelconnectedtoanadult(s)inthebuilding?

Yes

No

 18.Ifyouansweredyes,pleaseletusknowwhoitisortheyare(ifyouare
comfortablewiththat).
_________________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking time to answer this questionnaire. If

you or your parents have any questions about it, please
do not hesitate to call the office or come in for a visit.
Were looking forward to a great year with you at our
school!!

OctoberJournalResponse
Constructs:2,3and4

In our last two classes together, we watched the video Children

Full of Life. You were introduced to Mr. Kanamori, a teacher of a
4th grade class in Tokyo, Japan, who teaches his students not
only how to be students, but how to live caring and
compassionate lives. Mr. Kanamori instructs each student to
write their true feelings about events in their lives in a letter
which is then read aloud in front of the class.

1. Doyouthinkthatbysharingtheirlives,thechildrenbegintorealizethe
importanceofcaringfortheirclassmates?
2. IbelievethatMr.Kanamoriisanexcellentexampleofwhatallteachersshouldbe
like.Hehasmadeapositivedifferenceinhisstudentslives.Whatcharacteristics
andactionsofMr.Kanamoriswouldyouliketoseeinyourteachers?
3. Approximatelyhalfwaythroughthemovie(time:20:18),Mr.Kanamoriisvery
upsetwithYutoforchatteringandgoofingaroundallmorning.Herevokeshis
privilegeofridingtheraftthatafternoon.Yutosteammatesrallybehindhim
presentingMr.KanamorireasonswhyYutodeservestoridetheraft.Theyalso
takeresponsibilityfortheclassculturebecausetheydidn'ttellYutotobehave,
stoptalkingandstayontask.
a. Whatwereyourthoughtswhenthiswashappeninginthedocumentary?
b. DidyourfeelingstowardsMr.Kanamorichange?Whyorwhynot?
c. HaveyoueverbeeninasimilarsituationasYutos?Didanyonedefend
you?
d. HaveyoueverbeeninasimilarsituationasYosandMafutos(the
studentswhodefendedYuto)?Didyoudefendsomeonewhoneededyou

bytheirside?Didtheydeservetobedefendedbutyoudidntfeelsafeor
strongenoughtodoit?Ifyoucouldrelivethatsituation,whatwouldyou
do?

4. Doyouthinkthatthisteachercoulddothesameletterwritingactivityinajunior
highclasstopromotesafeandcaringenvironments?Woulditbeassuccessful?
Whyorwhynot?
5. WhatlessonscanwetakefromMr.Kanamorisclassandimplementinour
school?
6. Howcanweencouragestudentsandteachersinourschooltocareforeachother?

Journal

subject
the

November
Response
Construct1:
Teachers
knowledgeof
content,historyof
schoolandchild
development.

1. Ourschoolhasalongstandinghistory,groundedinrootsofranchingand
farming,huntingandrodeo.Manyofyourparentsattendedschoolhere.Doyou
feelthatourschoolsrichhistoryenhancesyoureducation?Whyorwhynot?

2. Doyoufeelthattheteachersatourschoolshoulddemonstrateanunderstanding
ofthehistoryofJ.T.Fostertoenhanceyourfeelingofbelonginghere?Whyor
whynot?

3. Doyoufeelthatyouwouldbewillingtohelpeducatenewstaffmembersabout
thehistoryofourschool?Doyoufeelthatifyouhelpedthemunderstandthe
schoolsculturethatitwouldenhancetheirteachingandassessment?

4. Manyteachersinthebuildinghaveastrongunderstandingofyourupbringingand
lifestyle.Howdoesthathelpyouintermsofachievementatschool?Doestheir
effortinunderstandingyourlifeencourageyoutodobetterintheirclasses?

5. Hastherebeenatimewhenateacherconnectsalessonobjectivedirectlytoyour
lifeorlifestyle?Howwasthatlessondifferentthanotherlessons?

6. Goingthroughadolescentscanbedifficultandconfusingforteenagers.Hasthere
beenatimewhenanadultinthebuildinggaveyousomeinsightintohowyou
werefeelingorwhyyouweredoingthethingsyouweredoing?Canyouprovide
anexample?Diditmakeyoufeelmoreconnectedtotheschoolortothatadult?

DecemberJournalResponse

Construct2:Teachersinterestsinstudentslivesandlearning;passiontowards
subjectarea.
Construct3:Schoolculture
Lastday,wewatchedRitaPiersonsTedTalkcalledEveryKidNeedsa
Champion.Pleasekeepthattalkinmindwhenyourespondingtothefollowing
questions.

1.

Haveyou
evertried
tolearn
from
someone
whotook
aninterest

inyourlife?Wereyouabletolearnfromthem?Why?
2. Ifyoufeelateacherisnotinterestedinyourlifeordoesntapproveofyour
lifestyle,wouldyoubewillingtotalkwiththemtoexplainhowyoufeelandhow
itisimpactingyourabilitytolearn?
3. Whoinyourlifemotivatestoyoutowanttodobetter?Why?

HelpingHampers

4. ThroughoutDecember,wecollectfood,clothesandmoneyforneedyfamilies.
Howdidthatmakeyoufeelwhenyousawallofthefoodandgoodsthatwe
collected?
5. Whenyousawyourfriendsbringingindonations,diditmakeyouwanttodonate
more(eitherthroughfoodand/ormoneyoryouractions(workinginasoup
kitchen,shovelingwalksforelderlyordisabledpeopleetc.))?
6. DidyoufeelthatourstudentsandstaffweremorecaringduringDecember
becauseofourHelpingHampersinitiativeordoyoufeelwearealwaysacaring
community?
7. Howwouldyouliketoseeourcaringcommunityreachoutonalocallevelmore
consistently?
8. Howwouldyouliketoseeourcaringcommunityreachoutonagloballevel
moreconsistently?
JanuaryJournalResponse

Construct3:SchoolCulture:howimportantisthehistoryofourschooltoour
currentculture?Isourschoolcultureresponsivetoemergingneeds?

InourNovemberjournalresponse,youthoughtabouthowimportantitisthatour
staffhaveasolidunderstandingoftheschoolhistoryandtrytoincorporatetheat
knowledgeintotheirlessons(toimproveengagementwherepossible)andto
buildrelationshipswithstudents.

Continuingwiththethemeofschoolculture,pleaserespondtothefollowing
questionsprompts:

1. IsthehistoryofJ.T.Fosterandthesurroundingcommunityimportantin
buildingrelationshipsintheschool?Howso?
2. IfyouwereanewstudenttoJ.T.Foster,perhapsfromCalgary,howwould
youfeelwhenyouarrivedhere?Doyoufeelthatthestudentsinourschool
arewelcomingtonewstudents?Whatactionshaveyoutakentomake
someonefeelwelcomeortostartcreatingarelationshipwiththem?
3. Doyoufeelthatweareawelcomingschoolcommunitytonewstudents?
Whatactionsdemonstrateawelcomingcommunity?
4. Doyoufeelthatthestaffisawelcomingcommunity?Whatactionsare
welcoming?
5. Doyoufeelthatourstaffvaluesalearningcommunity?Howdotheyshow
thattheyvaluealearningcommunity?
6. Doyoufeelthatourschoolisresponsivetostudentneeds?Howdoesthe
schoolmakechangestorespondtowhatthestudentbodyneeds?

7. Doyoufeelthestaffisresponsivetonewstudentsandtheirneeds?Canyou
thinkofatimewhenyousawastaffmemberrespondingtoastudentsneeds?
Howdidthatmakeyoufeel?

FebruaryJournalResponse

Construct4:TeacherSkills:dialogue,receptiveandcriticallistening.

Inthelasttwoweeks,wehavewatchedTheHorseWhisperer.Priortothe
movie,Iaskedyoutowatchintentlyforexamplesoflisteningandcare.Please
thinkbacktothemovienowasyourespondtothesequestions.

1. ThinkofAnnie,Gracesmom,atthebeginningofthemovie.Isshe
demonstratingcarewhenshelistenstoGrace?Whataboutwhensheistalkingto
theveterinarianaboutPilgrimaftertheaccident?Whyorwhynot?

2. TomBookeristhehorsewhispererinthemovie,butishealsoareceptivelistener
tohisfamilyandfriends?WhatabouttoAnnieandGrace?Provideexamplesof
whatyouthinkaremomentsofreceptive,criticallistening.Howdoyouknow
thatheisagoodlistener?
3. Annielikestotalkalotonthephone,totheBookerbrothers,toherhusband
andespeciallytoherdaughter.Doyoubelievethatthewayshetalkstopeople,
especiallyatthebeginningofthemovie,isdemonstrativeofeffectivedialogueto
demonstratecare?Whyorwhynot?
4. Haveyoueverhadateacherdemonstratecritical,receptivelisteningwithyou?
Whowasit?Howdiditmakeyoufeel?Diditaffectyourlearningoryourtimeat
school?
5. Haveyoueverhadateacheratschoolthatyoureallyenjoytalkingto?Why?
Whatisitthatmakesyoufeelhappy?Doesithelpyourlearningandmakeyour
timeatschoolmoreenjoyable?
6. Doyoufeelyouareareceptivelistener?Why?Whatcharacteristicsmakeyoua
receptivelistener?
7. Howcouldteachersimprovetheirlisteningskillsatourschool?
8. Howcouldteachersimprovetheirdialogueatourschool?

MarchJournalResponse

Construct2:Teacherdispositions:passioninsubjectarea.
Construct4:TeacherSkills:modeling,confirmationandreciprocatingcaring
behaviour

WejustfinishedwatchingRamseyMusallamsTedTalk3RulestoSpark
Learning.Heseemstohaveapassionforchemistry,curiosityandstudents
learning.

1. Doyoufeelthestaffatourschoolispassionateabouttheirsubjectarea?Ifso,
whoarethey?Howdoyouknowtheyarepassionateaboutmathorscienceor
ELAetc.?
2. Giveanexampleofastaffmemberdemonstratingpassionaboutalessonor
subjectarea?
3. Arestaffmemberspassionateaboutsomethingelse(i.e.traveling,extremesports,
athleticteams,movies,StarWars,politics,farmingetc)andyoufindtheirpassion
enhancesyourlearning?Pleaseexplain.
4. Arestaffmemberspassionateaboutyourextracurricularactivities(i.e.rodeo,
ranching,hunting,sports,dance,music,gaming,baking,artetc.)andyoufindit
enhancesyourlearning?Pleaseexplain.
5. Therearemanyadultsinthebuildingthatworkhardtomakesureitisasafe,
caringandwelcomingcommunity.Dothesedemonstrationsofcaremakeyou
wantcareforothers?Howso?
6. Hasastaffmembereverthankedoracknowledgedyourcaringbehavioursinour
building?Doyoufeelyoudeserveorwouldlikeacknowledgementwhenyou
demonstratecareorcontributetooursafeandcaringschoolcommunity?

AprilJournalResponse

Construct2:TeachersDisposition:respectingandtrustingstudents,valuing
relationships

InOctober,wewatchedthedocumentaryChildrenFullofLife.Pleasetaketime
towatchthedocumentaryagainifyourmindneedsrefreshing.


1. DoyoufeelthatMr.Kanamorirespectshisstudents?WhatactionsofMr.
Kanamorisdemonstraterespect?
2. Doyoufeelthathisstudentsrespecthim?Whatstudentactionsdemonstrate
respect?
3. IbelievethatMr.Kanamorivaluesrelationshipswithhisstudents.Doyouagree
ordisagree?Isthereamomentinthedocumentarythatshowsherespectshis
students?Pleaseexplain.
4. Nowpleasethinkaboutrelationshipsthatyouhavewithteachersinourbuilding.
Doyoufeelthatyourteachersrespectyou?Whyorwhynot?Pleaseprovide
examples(youdonotneedtonamespecificteachersbutfeelfreetojournalabout
theexperienceyouhavehad).
5. Doyourespecteachofyourteachers?Whyorwhynot?(Pleaserememberto
keepinmindalloftheyearsandinstancesthatyouhavesharedwiththese
teachers,notprimarilytheonetimewhentheyupsetyou.Iftherewasone
upsettinginstance,didithelpyouintheend?Didthepainleadtogrowth?)
6. Doyouvalueyourrelationshipswithstaffatschool?Howdoyoushowthatyou
valuethoserelationships?
7. Doyoufeelthatthestaffmembersvalueyourrelationshipwiththem?Dothey
showthattheyvaluethoserelationships?

MayJournalResponse

Post-Assessment of Care

Instructions:Anotheryearhascomeandgone.Allyear,youhavecompleted
journalresponseentriesfocusedonourgoalofimprovingandenhancingoursafe,
caringandwelcomingschoolenvironment.Pleasetaketimenowtoletusknow
howwedid,areasofstrength,areasthatneedimprovementandyourthoughtsfor
nextyear.

1. Whatwasyourfavouriteaspectofschoolthisyear?
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. Doyoucurrentlytakeabustoschool?(Circleone)
Yes
No
3. AnswerifyoucircledYESto#3:Whenyouareonthebus,doyoufeelsafe?

(Circleone) Yes
No
Ifyouansweredno,pleaseletusknowwhy:
__________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________
4. Ifyoudonottakethebustoschool,doyouwalkordoyougetaride?

____________________________________________________________

_____
5.

6.

Ifyouwalktoschool,doyoufeelsafe?Pleaseexplain.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Wewatchedmanyvideos,adocumentaryandyoureadsomearticlesabout
safe,caringandwelcomingschoolcommunitiesandrelationships.Whatdoes
beingcaredformeantoyou?

7. HowhavethestaffmembersatJ.T.Fostermadeyoufeelcaredfor?Please
explain.

8. HowhavethestaffmembersatJ.T.Fostertomakeyoufeelwelcome?Please
explain.

9. Whatshouldstudentsatthisschooldotoshowthattheyarecaring
individualsatalocal,nationaland/orgloballevel?

____________________________________________________________
_____

____________________________________________________________

_____

____________________________________________________________

_____

____________________________________________________________

_____
10. Didyouracademicachievementchangethisyear?Whydoyouthinkit
changed?

____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
___
11. Ifeelthereisanadultinthebuildingwhoyoufeelshowsinterestinmylife.

 a.StronglyAgree
Disagree

b.Agree

c.Neutral

d.Disagree

e.Strongly

12. Ifeelthereanadultinthebuildingwhoyoufeelshowsinterestinmy
learningandachievement?

a.StronglyAgree
b.Agree
c.Neutral
d.Disagree e.Strongly
Disagree
13. Ifeelthereisanadultinthebuildingwhorespectsandtrustsme.
a.StronglyAgree
Disagree

b.Agree

c.Neutral

d.Disagree

e.Strongly

14. Ifeelthatthereisanadultinthebuildingwhovaluesmyrelationshipwith
them.

a.StronglyAgreeb.Agree c.Neutral

d.Disagree

e.StronglyDisagree

15. NowthatIunderstandtheimportanceofaresponsiveschoolcommunity,I
feelIwillbemoreproactivewhenIseethatmyfellowclassmatesare
strugglingorneedhelp.
a.StronglyAgree
Disagree

b.Agree

c.Neutral

d.Disagree

e.Strongly

16. Whatisonething(event,action,staffinitiative)thatyouwouldliketosee
happenatourschooltomakeitamoresafe,caringandwelcoming
community?Howcanyouhelpusmakeithappen?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
17. Wehavemanyclubsandprogramscurrentlyrunningatourschool.Please
checkoffwhichonesyouaregoingtobejoiningtohelpcontinueoursafe,
caringandwelcomingcommunity:
QueensBall
McKenzieOlympics
SportsTeams
FOCUS
StudentCouncil
BandConcerts
StudentsAgainstSubstance
DramaProductions
Abuse
FieldTrips
AwardsNight
PinkShirtDay
Graduation
OrangeShirtDay
SpiritActivities

SpecialPresentations
(WorkPlays,post
secondaryrecruitment
presentations,drumming
etc.)

AuthorVisits
Rodeo
MonthlyAssemblies


18. Areanyoftheaboveprogramsdetracting(takingaway)fromoursafe,
caringandwelcomingenvironment?Ifso,pleaselistthem.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
17.Doyoufeelconnectedtoanadult(s)inthebuilding?Yes No

18.Ifyouansweredyes,pleaseletusknowwhoitisortheyare(ifyouare
comfortablewiththat).
_________________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking time to answer this questionnaire. If

you or your parents have any questions about it, please
do not hesitate to call the office or come in for a visit.
Were looking forward to a great year with you at our
school!!