WHITE RIVER JCT., Vt. (WCAX) – A survey at Hartford Middle School aims to see if students feel like they belong. It was created by students and will ultimately lead to lasting changes throughout the building.
Strengthening the sense of belonging to any community is not easy. That’s why a group of students at Hartford Middle School are working on it every day.
As Hartford Middle School students filed into the hallways, the “Belonging Group” was gathering in the cafeteria.
“If you’re sitting alone in a corner or something, I bet it’s not pleasant at all,” said Chuck Looby, an eighth-grader on a team helping identify areas of the school where improvements can be made without kids feeling left out. “I don’t want people to feel like that.”
The anonymous survey was created with the help of high school senior Harper Fallon, an intern at the school. Its aim is to check where children feel safe and where they do not.
“I think definitely people feel like they have to be someone they’re not,” said Ezra Tane, an eighth-grader.
The results will be collated to improve everyone’s sense of belonging. “For people to feel like they can be themselves,” Tane said.
“Sixth grade was kind of hard for me,” Fallon admitted. “You’re new and everyone’s already so comfortable here that you don’t know how to feel comfortable.”
Educators will tell you that middle school can be a difficult age. “Our job is to create a space where they feel like they belong,” said Hartford Middle School Principal Cody Tancreti. He also says it’s extremely important for students to be part of the process. “There will be changes at this school, whether it be the schedule, the system, or more staff in the hallway as time goes on.”
“We want to do something for them,” said Bella Lombardi. “We hope everyone feels part of the community.”
Administrators say changes made at the school could potentially be rolled out across the district, creating a sense of belonging for all students.
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