Ensuring That COVID-19 Doesn’t Mask Emotions |
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How can a teacher gauge how a shy six-year-old is feeling? Or, for that matter, how a proud 15-year-old is feeling? How are teachers to get a handle on the emotional health of students at a time when children and adults alike are experiencing stress, and even trauma, from the challenges of the pandemic?
At Croton-Harmon Union Free School District, the social and emotional health of students is a top priority, with the district utilizing many programs and approaches to support students.
“All teachers must approach this unique school year by meeting students where they are,” said Karen Gatto, director of pupil personnel services. “We have to take into consideration that many of our students are feeling vulnerable and may be experiencing trauma at this moment.”
Given the circumstances, Ms. Gatto said, the district is focusing on helping students to settle in and feel safe in the building, as well as to stay connected when they are at home. To that end, the district has implemented a plan whereby every student will have a “caring connection,” or faculty member who is available to them and is tracking their emotional health.
Among the supports being used are an increased number of open discussions and mindfulness sessions at the high school, a social-emotional wellness screening tool to identify students at risk and the RULER method created by the Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University.
The RULER method, which stands for Recognize, Understand, Label, Express and Regulate, is designed to help students and teachers recognize and manage their feelings. It is a critical support system at Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School and the Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School.
Through professional development on this approach, administrators, teachers and staff have learned that they, too, must begin each day by checking in with themselves and acknowledging their thoughts and emotions.
The Mood Meter is one widely used tool in the district, with students becoming accustomed to using it at a young age. At the elementary school, counselors regularly attend classes and break students into smaller groups to conduct mindfulness activities in addition to providing social/ emotional lessons.
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“We recognize that this pandemic has affected each one of us and that many of our educators and staff are also dealing with a variety of emotions,” said Superintendent Dr. Deborah O’Connell. “When we discuss that social-emotional learning must be the foundation for all we do, that applies to everyone.”
While students of all ages may feel loss or uncertainty these days, high school leadership and counselors are particularly mindful of how difficult this time is for juniors and seniors.
“From academics to socializing to extracurricular activities — and of course planning for their future — our juniors and seniors are connected to the school for so much,” said Principal Laura Dubak. “We need them to know that we are there for them and are dedicated to making their experience as fulfilling and successful as possible.”
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District Partners with NYU Metro Center
to Engage in Long-Term Plan to
Address Diversity and Inclusion
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Diversity, inclusivity and social justice have long been hallmarks of the Croton-Harmon Union Free School District mission. Now, the district is joining forces with the NYU Metro Center to find new ways to support these goals.
The district’s Strategic Coherence Plan for 2017-2022 envisions that, “All Croton-Harmon students will develop the habits of mind and social skills to become life-long learners, able to contribute to the well-being of society.” Part of this vision includes teaching students the importance of empathy and collaboration, both of which are elements of the Croton-Harmon “Profile of a Graduate.”
As the events of this year continue to push issues of racial and economic inequality to the forefront of our national consciousness, the district is more committed than ever to raising awareness of these issues and molding students into compassionate, politically conscious adults who are equipped to challenge the injustices of the twenty-first century. To this end, Croton-Harmon has partnered with the NYU Metro Center, formally known as the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools.
Led by Westchester resident Dr. Natalie Zwerger, the Metro Center is dedicated to researching issues of equity and education. The center separates issues into nine categories: student performance, teacher capacity, parent engagement and empowerment, immigrant transitional education, cultural and linguistic diversity, gender identity constructs, academic abilities and engagement,teacher and student career pathways, and community stakeholder models. The Center then applies its research by consulting with school districts to foster equity and racial justice in the schools and larger community.
“[We] work to embed racial justice, equity and inclusion into the fabric of what we do with kids,” said Dr. Zwerger, adding that the work is “so much more than legal compliance...the work is timely, and also tied to the current political/electoral situation.”
The center’s consultations with school districts generally begin with town hall forums aimed at gathering information about issues of inequity that residents have experienced and ways they think those issues could be addressed.
In setting goals for the partnership, Board of Education member Iris Bugliosi asked Dr. Zwerger about the best approach for Croton-Harmon, given the small number of students of color in the district. Zwerger explained that the focus is not exclusively on race, but on a broader definition of inclusion comprising those with disabilities, those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and those from different economic classes.
Following Dr. Zwerger’s recommendation, the district plans to hold a Community Conversation on Diversity and Inclusion in our schools where Dr. Zwerger will introduce the work of the Metro Center, then serve as a moderator for an open discussion where parents, students and community members will all be welcome to, “speak their truth.” The event is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28th, at 7:30pm. Dr. Zwerger believes it is critical that these conversations not be limited to students and their families even though the focus will be on
the schools.
One of the overall goals is to build partnerships among community and student-based diversity and inclusion groups already at work in Croton-Harmon schools. Dr. Zwerger also stressed the importance of welcoming the voices of all students who have felt ostracized, including those who may be labelled as racist due to their beliefs. There will be a pre-registration for this forum in order to keep the number of attendees manageable.
In addition to fostering open, honest discussions, Dr. Zwerger and her team also will be evaluating curricula to see what the schools already do well and what could be added to further promote equality. There also will be a focus on professional development in the district, including the faculty and staff.
“This is incredibly important work that we are undertaking and there aren’t any quick fixes,”
said Superintendent Deborah O’Connell. “We aren’t just addressing systemic inequality; we also have to examine the way students interact with each other. Given the Metro Center’s individualized and thoughtful approach, I’m confident that we will make progress. I’m really looking forward to it.”
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With COVID Safety regulations in Place,
Croton-Harmon Athletes Prepare for
the Fall Season
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High school athletes can’t wait to return to athletic competition but Interim Athletic Director Michael Gulino said Croton-Harmon is putting safety first.
Gulino said he appreciates that student athletes, especially seniors, want to play their seasons and many will have that opportunity.
Boys’ and girls’ soccer, field hockey, boys’ and girls’ cross country and girls’ tennis all have been approved to play by theNew York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHAA) provided COVID-19 safety guidelines are followed.
Football, competitive cheer, girls' volleyball and girls’ swimming will play a ‘Fall 2’ season beginning March 1st, which means they will run at the same time as spring sports. Unfortunately, all fall modified sports have been cancelled for 2020.
Also of note is that Croton-Harmon is in a different league of the same conference this year, which means that it will be playing different opponents than in the past for league play until October 18th. After the 18th, teams in the conference are allowed to play neighboring schools that compete in other leagues, so some old rivals will return.
To prevent the spread of coronavirus, students will wear masks during practices and games and use their own water bottles, which will only be refilled by coaches at water dispensers. There will be more port-a-johns by the fields and accompanying sanitizing stations, and all coaches will have spray sanitizer on hand.
In keeping with safety rules, neither Croton-Harmon athletes nor visitors will have access to
the locker rooms for changing. Athletes will also be asked to wash their practice equipment every day.
Student-athletes and their families should also note that, in compliance with state regulations, schools cannot allow outside groups, including opposing teams, into indoor facilities. The district will make use of all of its outdoor fields, but because the fields do not have lights, games later in the fall may be played on Saturdays or Sundays during daylight hours.
In order to bring everyone up to speed with all of these changes, coaches will be required to complete a course on COVID safety in high school athletics that is sponsored by the National Federation of High Schools, which oversees athletics nationwide. Gulino said that he is confident that all of our athletes will follow these new regulations and that he will ensure that
all teams coming to play in the district adhere, as well.
“It’s my job to be sure that we are doing everything possible to keep our athletes and coaches safe,” said Gulino. “We won’t hesitate to call off any game if the athletes or coaches from our opponent’s team don’t follow all of our safety protocols.”
Section 1 will be releasing spectator and competition guidelines prior to October 10, which is the first day of competition. The district's other safety concern is the physical health and stamina of its athletes.
Because of the pandemic, summer practice was limited to virtual workouts. In order to allow athletes time to build up their strength and stamina, there will be 10 practices before games are played for all sports. The emphasis of these practices will be on conditioning and stretching as well as getting athletes acclimated to wearing masks while they play. Coaches will have the right to forfeit or reschedule early-season games if they feel that their team is not prepared physically.
Gulino also reminded student-athletes that a large part of the responsibility will be in their hands this year, as they take even greater care of themselves, their teammates and their belongings. Parents of athletes also can help by staying up to date via email and the athletics website, and by following all safety regulations. Section 1 will be releasing guidelines for spectators at fall games. While it’s going to be a unique and challenging year for sports in the Croton-Harmon district, we are confident that with everyone’s help, we’ll be able to play the entirety of the fall season and keep our athletes healthy and safe.
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Two Croton Students Among
2020 National Merit Semifinalists
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The Croton-Harmon Union Free School District is proud to announce that two of our students, Maya Gardos and Jacob Aronson, have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists for 2020. This prestigious recognition is given only to high school juniors who score in the top 1.25 % nationally on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test. Ninety percent of semifinalists generally move on to become finalists, with about half of the finalists eventually winning a National Merit Scholarship.
Semifinalist Maya Gardos credits her academic success to her inquisitive nature and passion for learning. “After class, I am always left with so many questions about the subject matter,” said Maya. “It leaves me eager for the next day!” Maya’s favorite subject is English, although she says she enjoys all of her classes in high school.
When asked what advice she would give to incoming freshmen, Maya stressed the importance of being an active participant in your own learning. “It's so easy to feel disconnected from your classes and your school, especially with the current pandemic,” she said. “However, if you actively engage with what you're learning and the people learning with you, passion and enthusiasm will come naturally.”
The district's other finalist, describes himself as a highly self-motivated person. “I push myself to be the best that I can be,” he said. “I’ve always been that way.” Jacob’s favorite subject is math, but he is also very interested in the sciences, especially physics.
“It makes me incredibly proud to have two of our students recognized for their hard work and dedication on a national stage,” said Principal Laura Dubak. “I wish them the best of luck throughout this year and hope they both come away with National Merit Scholarships.”
The winners of the $2500 National Merit Scholarships will be announced in May.
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Think. Create. Reflect. Respect.
Challenging all students
to be critical and creative thinkers. .
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CONNECT WITH CROTON-HARMON |
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