• Restorative Practices

    Restorative Justice (in Education) is defined as "facilitating learning communities that nurture the capacity of people to engage with one another and their environment in a manner that supports and respects the inherent dignity and worth of all." (Source: Restorative Justice in Education by Evans and Vaandering, 2016)
     
    (from: Eastern Mennonnite University Restorative Justice Conference)
     
    The central belief of a Restorative Justice mindset is that people are worthy and relational.  This is the foundational tenet of restorative justice in education.  
    These beliefs are rooted in values of respect, dignity, and mutual concern.  
     
    This belief and these values are practiced in three broad ways:
    1. Nurturing Healthy Relationships
    2. Creating Just and Equitable Learning Environments
    3. Repairing Harm and Transform Conflict
    (from Building Positive Relationships Through Restorative Justice, a presentation by Kristen Woodward)
     
    Restorative Mindset is a paradigm shift. It is a way of being and a way of viewing the world, relationships, justice, and wrongdoing. Restorative Practices are what we are doing in the learning environment to honor the worth and value that each member of our community possesses.  SCORE Academy staff and students are continuously learning and growing in restorative practices. 
     

    What makes SCORE Academy different?  What are we doing, restoratively?

    • Develop and maintain positive, supportive, and partnering sorts of relationships WITH students and staff.
    • Orient students to SCORE Academy in a relational way that fosters good relationships and supports well-being.
    • Offer one to one personalized instruction that fosters trust and understanding.
    • Staff communicate restoratively with one another, students, and students' parents/guardians.
    • Students and staff engage in circles process to build community and nurture relationships.
    • ReAssigned students have the opportunity to engage in circle process with their peers to learn about coping skills, problem solving, communication, and to plan for transition back to their base school.  
    • ReAssigned students engage in an elective course which focuses on the 5 R's of Restorative Practices: Relationships, Respect, Responsibility, Repair, Reintegration
    • ReAssigned students have the opportunity to engage in a restorative mediation, facilitative dialogue, or transition meeting, where the student and all have voice, before returning to their base school.