Breakthrough Magnet School comes together as an entire community once weekly to participate in activities as a group such as singing, and sharing classroom events. The community meeting is also a forum for airing concerns within the school and the community. Participating in such a forum enables students to feel a sense of ownership in their school community and contribute to problem solving and finding solutions. When students are included, they more readily accept and work at supporting the solutions to problems occurring at school.

Participation in a community meeting strengthens a student’s awareness of his or her place in the larger school community, not just in a classroom. It builds pride and spirit in the school and it supports our commitment to the “building of family” at Breakthrough Magnet School. One of our character education lessons is addressed at each community meeting. Students are exposed to common vocabulary and situations that they can discuss together as a school. Our entire staff reinforces these lessons throughout the week. Students are encouraged to “coach” each other on these same distinctions.