Ready, Eager and Caring Help (R.E.A.C.H.)
Our commitment to Failure Is Not an Option (a school-wide book study using Alan Blanksteins' book) is evident as all teachers develop strong relationships with their students by knowing each child as an individual. R.E.A.C.H. (Ready, Eager and Caring Help), is a program we have implemented on the Castro Valley Elementary campus to ensure that students in need receive daily individual attention from a staff member. These students are identified at faculty meetings where each teacher commits to making intentional daily interactions with specific students, building healthy relationships and supporting individual needs. An interaction can be as simple as a smile on the playground or something scheduled like a lunch with the teacher. For many students, the positive adult connections they have at school may be the only ones they have. It is therefore critical that the school actively fill that void, by making students feel valued, special and capable. There have been numerous positive effects of strengthening the R.E.A.C.H. program and fostering a caring campus climate, including a drastic decline in suspensions.