Summary of "Willow Ridge Primary School - A Rick Midwinter Adventure"

School Culture Drift by Rick Midwinter

According to Rick Midwinter, school cultures don't typically collapse abruptly, but rather drift over time. The daily routines continue, but relationships start to weaken, collaboration turns into coordination, trust into tolerance, and dialogue into mere exchange. This gradual shift from a vibrant community to a functional institution often goes unnoticed until it becomes the new norm. Leaders are advised not to resort to quick fixes or superficial morale-boosting activities but to pause and reflect on the unsaid issues. Holding space in education means creating room for meaningful conversations and realigning the school culture by asking probing questions.

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Willow Ridge Primary School

Willow Ridge Primary School is a small one-form-entry school located on the outskirts of a town. The school, surrounded by stone walls and old trees, has a rich history of families passing through its corridors. Despite its kind-hearted approach, the school carries an invisible weight, striving to do its best amidst the challenges it faces. Moira and Reuben, in a quiet moment at the Head's Office, acknowledge a subtle sense of misalignment within the school's operations. They realize that while everything seems technically manageable, there is an underlying feeling that something important is being missed, something that lies in the unspoken spaces between policies and meetings.

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Recognizing the Drift

Moira shares with Reuben an article she came across by Rick Midwinter, highlighting how school cultures drift and fade without immediate notice. The realization that relationships may have subtly weakened to a point of mere functionality rather than vibrancy strikes a chord with both of them. They ponder on the importance of addressing this quiet drift and consider reaching out to Rick Midwinter for his reflective approach to understanding and possibly realigning the school culture.

(Page 3)

Willow Ridge Primary School - Flipbook by Fleepit