According to the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is "a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of that country."

Refugees come to the U.S. to escape persecution or dangerous situations such as war in their own country. They often leave their homes quickly, possibly fleeing danger. They rarely have time to make any arrangements, gather important documents, or say good-bye to loved ones. In fact, depending on the situation, they may leave their home and not know the fate or whereabouts of their family members, which causes a lot of stress. They often live in refugee camps in neighboring countries while waiting for their application for resettlement to be processed. The camps vary in the support and resources provided. Some camps may be well-established and have organized housing, food distribution, and education opportunities, while others may lack even the basics of clean water and sanitation. When refugees arrive in the U.S. they receive services and support from one of the ten national voluntary agencies that have contracts with the U.S. government in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. They often have to learn a whole new culture and language without the support of extended family.

Challenges Faced by Refugees
Mental health is an area of concern for resettled refugees. Due to the extremely stressful circumstances typically associated with their departure from their own country and their journey to the U.S., Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a real concern when assisting refugees. Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more terrifying events in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma. This stressor may involve someone's actual death or a threat to the patient's or someone else's life, serious physical injury, or threat to physical and/or psychological integrity, to a degree that usual psychological defenses are incapable of coping.

Signs and symptoms of PTSD, as listed on the website www.kidshealth.org include:
• sleeplessness
• nightmares
• inability to get along with others, particularly in close relationships
• paranoia and distrust
• unwillingness to discuss or revisit in any way the site of the trauma
• persistent, intense fear and anxiety
• feeling easily irritated or agitated
• having difficulty concentrating
• feeling numb or detached
• no longer finding pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
• feeling helpless or "out of control"
• experiencing intense survivor guilt
• being preoccupied with the traumatic event
• physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal distress, or dizziness
• suicidal thoughts, plans, or gestures

More information about how to assist refugees who are suffering from PTSD is available from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. If refugee students or their family members display these symptoms, it is important that the school and/or their sponsoring organization assist them in getting professional help and treatment. Work with school social workers or counselors to help students who are experiencing PTSD.

Latinos In Action (LIA) offers an asset-based approach to bridging the graduation and opportunity gap for Latino students, working from within the educational system to create positive change. Our program operates as a year-long elective course taught by a highly qualified teacher at the middle school, junior high, and high school level with the goal of empowering Latino youth to lead and strengthen their communities through college and career readiness. We accomplish this by focusing on four pillars: leveraging personal and cultural assets, excelling in education, serving the community, and developing leadership skills. Because of this unique combination, the LIA model has proven effective throughout the United States.

How it works:

The following list of resources that focus on supporting LGBTQ+ students and families.

Resources

• Utah Pride Center 
• Encircle
• Trevor Project

Helping Students Build Strong and Healthy Relationships - In School and In Life

Restorative Practices is a positive way of living—NOT a disciplinary tool. Through Restorative Practices, students learn to connect with teachers and other students to build a strong community. They develop appropriate social and emotional skills, come to understand how their actions affect others, and work to repair any harm done. It is an approach built on respect, communication, and strategies for success. We understand that when everyone is treated with respect, classrooms are safe and healthy environments that support both teaching and learning.

Key Objectives

• Respect
• Relate
• Reflect
• Restore

Why use Restorative Practices?

Restorative Practices create supportive school communities where students can thrive and learn the academic, social and emotional skills that they need to succeed in college, career and life. Restorative Practices provide a way for schools to strengthen community, build relationships among students and between students and staff, and increase the safety and productivity of the learning environment. Restorative Practices:

• Improve school and classroom climates by focusing on community, relationships and responsibility
• Promote social and emotional skill development by teaching students’ self-awareness, empathy, communication skills, responsible decision-making, relationship building, and conflict resolution.
• Increase safety and order in school buildings by decreasing conflict, de-escalating volatile situations, and promoting a sense of collective responsibility
• Decrease disciplinary issues and disruptions, and serve as an alternative to harmful exclusionary practices such as suspension and expulsion
• Promote student engagement in learning and aids in classroom management

Implementing School-wide Restorative Practices

Restorative Practices are ingrained in and implemented through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) that promotes all students’ academic, social, and emotional learning. Rather than a separate program, Restorative Practices are ways of speaking with each other, working together, and resolving conflict as part of the process to develop a warm, safe, and productive school climate. While Restorative Practices may be used informally by individuals, a school-wide approach to Restorative Practices must be implemented intentionally and systematically to create culture change and ensure success.

While implementation is outlined in sequential steps below, in practice, these steps may overlap or require repetition or adaptation.

1. Gain Commitment
2. Create Ownership
3. Create a Shared Vision
4. Develop Stystems as Practice
5. Continously Improve

Weber School District is committed to ensuring a safe learning and working environment for all our students and employees. Weber School District prohibits discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), or retaliation on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected classification in all educational  programs, activities, admissions, access, treatment, or employment practices. Board Policy 4120 and 7100 prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin, sex, handicap or disability, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,  and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Equal Access Act, and Utah Code 34A-5-106.

The Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Department is committed to look for evidence and research-based practices that will enhance educational practices. The Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Department supports Weber School District Educators' work and create a space for tools and resources, but also reflect on the essence of the “why” of our work. For more information regarding civil rights, please check the following links. 

Bullying Investigation

How to File and OCR Complaint

Section 504

Title IV of the Civil Rights Act

Title IX of the Education Amendment

Ms. Lloyds students worked hard on their Chrome Book covers. They will be getting Chrome books in January.

Ms Smith FACS class at Orion Jr have been making seatbelt covers for cancer patients…The idea was inspired by one of Ms. Smith students who has a friend with cancer.  The cancer patients favorite item that helped her through her treatments  was a selt beltcover for the Chemo ports.  The covers prevent the seatbelts from rubbing against the ports. The ports are very sensitive.  All covers made will be donated to local hospitals for cancer patients.