Librarian Alain Cruz is thrilled to collaborate on filming a video on restorative rounds with his leadership class.
“It was exciting receiving the news from Ms. Wendy, telling us that Daniel Pearl Magnet High School and my leadership kids should make a video about restorative rounds,” Cruz said.
Restorative rounds are a formal communication process where a group meets in a semi-structured environment to share perspectives, solve conflict, repair harm and build relationships in a safe and respectful manner. After students returned from virtual learning a few years ago, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) created the system. LAUSD’s Division of School Operations (DSO) department later collaborated with Daniel Pearl Magnet High School’s leadership class to film a video on restorative rounds. They began filming on Sept. 30 and later postponed its production for a month. There is no expected date by which the film will be finished.
“Restorative rounds are about resolving problems and issues the people might have,” said senior Mose Judge-Glascock, who is a student in leadership. “We kind of make light of the situation to make it a funny little thing that happens and then everyone’s all better.”
The leadership class was contacted by Wendie Breitenfeld, who is a Systems of Support Adviser at LAUSD. Breitenfeld tasked the leadership class with developing a film that would be shown to LAUSD students. Soon after, junior Mateo Zazueta wrote a script for the film and leadership students immediately volunteered to participate in it. Some students worked as boom operators, camera operators and one even voice-acted as a cartoon triangle.
The film is centered in DPMHS and follows a cartoon triangle named Pausey that seeks to spread positivity among the school community. After Pausey witnesses the chaos and negativity within the school in the film, Pausey begins instructing students on restorative round practices to de-escalate conflict.
“When I found out that our school was chosen to make the video, I said great, awesome,” said Zazueta, who wrote the script for the film. “The most fun part of the process was mostly the writing the most because, well, I don’t know writing and editing are sort of tied for me because I love being there and creating the idea and having all this ambition of where it could go. I also like coming in at the end and stitching together all the completed pieces.”
