Relationship Mapping with Making Caring Common

Dear Parents,

I hope that you are all doing well! 

I’m writing to share that Rumsey has partnered with Making Caring Common (MCC) at Harvard Graduate School of Education to implement a Relationship Mapping process at our school this year to ensure that all students have a positive and trusting relationship with at least one school adult at our school. We will be using their research-based approach to improve student belonging and relationships in an effort to support their mental health.

Our school has committed to using MCC’s Relationship Mapping Strategy where students identify school adults with whom they have positive, trusting relationships. Adults will work to build stronger connections with any students who say they don’t have any positive, trusting relationships with a school adult.

Our upper school students will be asked to take a brief survey at the beginning and end of the school year that will ask them for their name, how many positive and trusting relationships they have with school adults, and some demographic information. This data will be shared with our school staff so that we know exactly who to support throughout the school year to build and strengthen relationships. The survey will also ask some confidential questions about student mental health which will be shared with MCC to inform their research. Students will have the option to skip any question on the survey. Click here if you’d like to review the survey questions and please let us know as soon as possible If you’d prefer that your child not take this survey.

We hope you are as excited as we are about this new initiative, and we’ll be excited to share what we learn and how our students and school may benefit. 

Best wishes,
Ian Craig
Head of School