Urbana Middle School
Vision Statement

We see UMS as:
- a learning environment that is bright and cheery, clean and welcoming, featuring
abundant evidence of productive learning, the products of which are displayed
throughout the school.
- a busy, active, open and inviting place where interactions between and among
adults and students exemplify respectful communication - listening and speaking.
- a place where adults and students take pride in actively working together -
caring, helping, respecting, encouraging, and challenging each other to grow and learn.
- a collection of diverse individuals forming a joyful, smiling, laughing, relaxed
calm collective that honors themselves and each other by resolving conflicts
peaceably.
We believe:
- the home, school, and community share the responsibility for helping youth to be
effective citizens in the varied contexts of life.
- we must all be and feel safe in the school environment, and have the opportunity to meet our
basic needs of belonging, power, freedom, and fun.
- conflict is a natural part of our everyday lives. The way we choose to respond to
conflict largely determines whether the outcome is constructive or destructive.
- conflict resolution education empowers us to solve real problems and to choose
responsible behaviors.
- discipline is a process through which we learn to self-evaluate and choose
behaviors while making choices that do not deny constructive choice to others.
- as individuals, we will behave according to expectations that are clear,
fair, positive, consistent, explainable and explained.
- a positive learning environment is more apt to exist when the adults are role models
displaying appropriate, respectful, effective behaviours toward others.
- learning is a life-long process, and a significant purpose of school is to help us
all fully participate in the learning process.
