Restorative Center expansion

Photo of some restorative center decorations (Photo: Jasmine Arroyo, The Puma Prensa)

By Jasmine Arroyo, Buisness Manager

I wish I could say that in my four years at Maria Carrillo I never felt so overwhelmed with school, sports, friendships, or family to the point of a breakdown--or at least near breakdown, however that is not the case. What I didn’t know at the time is that there is a quiet, safe space on our own campus meant to provide students with what they may need to get through--what I know as--these inevitably isolating and vulnerable moments. 

Upon entering the newly expanded Restorative Center located under the clock tower, I noticed the space’s layout and its overall vibe. It was unlike that of any room I had ever seen on campus. Dim lights, comfy chairs, soft pillows, and interactive toys decorated the room in a way that took my attention away from the reason I even walked in there. It was peaceful, calming, and definitely a refreshing change of scenery of my day’s previous events. 

Carrillo now has two Restorative Specialists, Lorna McBade and Diego Allende Rivas. Previously, McBade served as our only specialist on campus and the center was only a room with limited capacity for students and staff. With the addition of Allende Rivas this year as our second specialist, the Restorative Center was created as an expansion of McBade’s original space. But what exactly are restorative practices, and how do they fit into Carrillo? 

Restorative practices highlight the values of respect, responsibility, accountability and their role in creating a safe and positive community. By helping students engage in respectful dialogue, develop social/emotional/interpersonal skills, create healthy ways to work through conflict, and learn how to take responsibility for their actions, McBade and Allende Rivas nurture a safe and inclusive school environment.  

There are two components to restorative practices- the proactive and the responsive. 

“There’s the proactive part, and that's where we are building community in classrooms and getting to know each other. The more we know one another and respect each other, the less likely we'll have altercations,” explained McBade. Inside the classroom, this can take the shape of working with teachers to integrate restorative practices and create curriculum used in classroom circles. These circles are meant to be fun and engaging, ultimately fostering friendships--or at very least respect-- between students McBade and Allende Rivas will hope help prevent conflicts in the future. Although circles during class are up to teachers’ discretion, students are also welcome to join lunch and break time hangout sessions on their own. 

“The responsive piece is if there is some kind of conflict or altercation, we want to go through the ‘why’ part.” In order for conflicts between students-and sometimes faculty - to be sorted, all parties need a safe space to discuss their differences. Unfortunately, it can be nearly impossible to find the time and space to have these hard-to-have conversations while facing the pressure of peer groups and the hustle of schoolwork. Instead, students can be referred to the Restorative Center or can stop by during break or lunch. That's when the tricky part begins. 

With the intention to make things right, McBade and Allende Rivas use conflict circles as their primary tool for bringing involved individuals together with the opportunity to speak and be heard. 

There are five key restorative questions that lead these discussions: What happened, and what were you thinking at the time? What have you thought since? Who has been affected by what happened and how? What about this has been the hardest part for you? What do you think needs to be done to make things as right as possible? Using the principles of restorative practices, McBade and Allende Rivas hope to help guide participants to create mutually positive outcomes. 

“This is hard work for a lot of students. In here, they have to do a lot of self reflection,” said McBade. Both specialists help students and staff facilitate a respectful and productive conversation. “We open up space so students can talk through it. We're not here to fix it, the students know what they need and we just open the space,” said Allende Rivas.

Both know that on a campus as large as Carrillo’s, conflict is bound to occur. That's where restorative practices come in. How these conflicts are handled and what can be done to prevent them in the future make a world’s difference in the outcome of the situation. 

The Restorative Center also has one hidden resource available to students--one I wish I found out about my first year at Carrillo opposed to my last. 

Not many know that if they ever feel emotionally overwhelmed during class, they can ask for a pass from any staff member--no questions asked-- to the Restorative Center. For those 15 minutes, students are given the time and privacy to stop and reset. Whether they are in need of a conversation or just a couple moments alone, McBade and Allende Rivas listen to incoming students and offer them the support they need in the moment. “Sometimes you just need 15 for whatever is going on,” said Allende Rivas. 

The center’s expansion for the 2023-24 school year is only the first step in McBade and Allende Riva’s vision of how restorative practices can transform Carrillo’s student and staff community. Both specialists hope to host more after school and lunch time circles to bring students together. Eventually, they would love to see a club on campus focused on restorative practices with the goal to create a student restorative panel that can offer support to their peers. 

Mcbade said,“We would love to make it more inclusive, and that's just a matter of getting the word out [that the center is here].”