To begin the 2019-2020 school year, the Ocean City School District has introduced the district-wide initiative known as “We Rock.”
The vision of “We Rock” is to empower school faculty, empower students and empower the community, the district said in a press release.
“We Rock” was created in late June when Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Taylor gathered a group of leading teachers, including past teachers of the year, and asked them to develop a program of empowerment.
It would start with the focus on their fellow staff members and eventually spread to the students and then to the community.
“This program is about reconnecting with humanity, learning to listen, teacher wellness, and building emotional intelligence throughout our district and community,” Dr. Taylor said in the release. “The ability for teachers and students to share their stories amongst their peers and create an environment celebrating the empowerment of each other is our ultimate goal.”
In October of this year, the goal is to have every interested primary, intermediate and high school student paint their own rock and display them in the buildings for all to see. The rocks will be placed around the schools as silent reminders of the important messages they hold.
“This initiative aims to build school and community pride, bridge cooperation and camaraderie between our three schools and the community and finally to help our students and employees realize they matter,” said Primary School teacher Carrie Merritt. “I truly hope that the ‘We Rock’ project allows for all of our staff and students to really take a moment and celebrate who he or she is and for our Ocean City community to have the opportunity to see that the Ocean City School District does indeed rock.”
On the first Monday of each month, faculty and staff will wear their new “We Rock” apparel and will participate in wellness and programming for teachers and students. This initiative will also be spread to the outer school community.
As a community member, if you would like to get involved, contact Carrie Merritt at cmerritt@ocsdnj.org. Funds and resources will benefit upcoming projects and initiatives.
