Cedar Island Elementary School students participate in listening session

Students in Ms. Larson’s fourth grade class and Mr. Deuel’s fifth grade class at Cedar Island Elementary School participated in a listening session with district leaders on Nov. 19. Students had the opportunity to give their feedback in a fun and interactive way. 

Each school year, the district sends out a survey asking students a number of questions about how they are feeling and doing in Osseo Area Schools. District leaders organized this listening session with students to help decide what questions should be on the survey and what topics are important to students. During the listening session, run by team members from the Finding Human Institute, students answered a number of questions in small groups. 

The first question that they asked students was “What helps you feel safe at school, and what could we do to help everyone feel even safer?” Students discussed how their friends, teachers, principal and other staff members make them feel safe, and how they feel safe when they practice fire and other safety drills. 

Next, students were asked “What helps you feel included here, like you feel you belong, and what can we do so every student feels that way too?” On sheets of paper at their tables, students drew pictures of some of the teachers, their friends and their principal, Mr. Berg, who make them feel like they are welcomed and belong each day. They talked about creating a community in each classroom and in the school as a whole.

The third question students answered was “When do you feel heard, and how could students help make more decisions here?” Students once again mentioned how their teachers and staff members make them feel heard each day, and how it helps to spend time with their friends. 

Finally, students were asked, “What do you dream about for the future, and how can we help you get ready for those dreams?” Students discussed wanting to pursue lots of different careers, from lawyer to YouTuber, pilot, professional athlete, astronaut and more.  

At the end of the session, each small group of students shared what they answered for each of the questions with the large group, and were very excited to find that they shared a lot of the same answers.