The Personal Power and Community Connections (P2C2) team at Vergennes Union Elementary built on the strong foundation they established last year, diving deeper into leadership and data analysis with enthusiasm and care. Last year, their first retreat was about building community, and the second retreat focused on looking at data and identifying common concerns. The data they collected focused on students’ sense of belonging, how they express their feelings, and how they learn in class. The team went back to their classes to share their findings, as well as discuss the strengths and concerns that they identified. 

Throughout this year’s retreats, this team of fourth and fifth graders surveyed staff and students —focusing especially on how both groups perceive rules and expectations—and used those insights to spark meaningful conversations about promoting greater clarity, consistency, and fairness across the school. Creative activities like a newspaper design challenge and a firehouse scavenger hunt helped strengthen their teamwork and problem-solving skills. Now, the team is turning its attention to clarifying expectations for hallways, recess, and the lunchroom. They plan to share their work through film PSAs at an all-school assembly and in the family newsletter, so caregivers can help reinforce expectations at home. Their thoughtful, collaborative approach is already making a positive impact!