Beginning the school year

Social Emotional Learning prioritizes the needs of the whole child, both curriculum and connection. The human being needs relationships to survive and thrive. How can the needs of safety, value, respect, and support be debated?

Our work in SEL values the neuroscience which teaches us that integrity, empathy, responsibility, and compassion are essential to be a healthy human being and community. 

The teacher student relationship has emphasized the dual task of teaching content and cultivating character since the beginning of human development. 

Social Emotional Learning embraces academic achievement as a component of social and emotional development. In integrating Social Emotional Learning with academic achievement we focus on building knowledgeable and responsible citizens. 

Families join with educators in knowing our children need to feel safe, values, and connected. Families want their children to be interested and engaged in their education. Social Emotional Learning is an integral part of building a classroom and school wide community. We establish norms of physical and emotional safety. We learn how to give and receive specific, descriptive, and observable feedback and we learn how to resolve conflict and forgive. 

It is essential that social emotional learning strive for trusting relationships between students, teachers, staff, administrators, and families. Social Emotional Learning is not only what we do, it is who we are.