Perseverance, Readiness, Inclusivity, Dedication and Excellence. These are the traits that make up the new student empowerment program, Pivot P.R.I.D.E.!
Pivot Charter Schools’ P.R.I.D.E. program was created to build student confidence and culture across the school’s four campuses throughout California.
Kristen Poitras, Director of Student Support Programs at Pivot, along with staff across the school sites, noticed that students had room to improve their social-emotional learning. In response, they created the Pivot P.R.I.D.E. program, a fun system that aims to enhance student’s interpersonal skills and confidence—traits that benefit students in both their educational journeys and in their daily lives.
“PIVOT P.R.I.D.E. has really helped create a culture and community for students both online and on campus,” says Kristen Poitras. “The program highlights Pivot’s core values in a very digestible and empowering way for the students.”
Within Pivot’s P.R.I.D.E. program, all students explore monthly themes that embody the core values of P.R.I.D.E. These themes are the focal point of their homeroom classes. For instance, September was dedicated to nurturing a growth mindset, while October shifted the focus to crafting SMART goals and fostering successful habits.
The counseling team and other staff at Pivot diligently design these themes and lesson plans, ensuring they are tailored to meet the distinct needs and comprehension levels of elementary, middle, and high school students. This thoughtful approach maintains consistency in messaging while effectively addressing the unique requirements of students across different grade levels. Ultimately, the lesson plans connect with all Pivot students to nurture personal growth and instill a sense of pride in their achievements.
Students can also opt-in to participate in the ‘challenge of the month’, for instance learning a new skill such as playing an instrument or practicing coding online. Completion of the monthly challenges earns students badges which can be traded for Pivot swag and other prizes.
After piloting the program in Spring of 2023, the future looks bright for this curriculum of empowerment. “Engagement has already increased, and we hosted about 200 students on Google Meet for our virtual pep rally in September. It is inspiring to see the students interact with each other despite having never met some of their peers,” said Kristen.
Pivot parents and guardians are also included in the program with a monthly update on the ‘value of the month,’ providing insight on how to guide their students in their educational journey. It also shares information on the challenge of the month.
Pivot P.R.I.D.E. champions students to have pride in themselves and their school. As they go through each course, the skills they practice will grow their capacity as students and as people. By closing the social-emotional learning gap through Pivot’s personalized and supportive approach to education and programs like P.R.I.D.E, Pivot students build the confidence to achieve and become set up for ultimate personal success.