September 21, 2021
Dear families,
This Friday is a holiday for our students as our Faculty and Staff will be attending a virtual Professional Development day hosted by the Department of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Oakland. The theme of this PD is Equity & Belonging. The Department of Catholic Schools has made Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) a priority, and has set up a committee of educators and experts who will support DEI in our Diocesan schools.
I chose Belonging as our school theme this year because I believe that through a strong sense of belonging we enhance the learning experience for all students and we see greater student achievement. My passion for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) was born from my experience as a teacher and administrator. I hadn't heard of SEL twenty years ago, but I could identify the behaviors and truths of successful teaching. SEL focuses on those behaviors and truths through an educational philosophy that is based on the belief that the best learning happens within a context of supportive relationships that make learning challenging, engaging, and meaningful. From my over three decades as a professional educator, I know this to be true.
Last week I led the Faculty and Staff in an Introduction to Mindfulness, focusing on brain research as well as educational research, because it is beneficial for educators as well as students. I’m happy to share that something wonderful resonated with our faculty and staff, and many have implemented Mindfulness in their classrooms and/or as a personal practice. Some classrooms were using Mindfulness but may have added to it. The PD on Friday will provide teachers more experience with Social Emotional Learning and information on how it can facilitate students’ learning experience as well as their sense of belonging.
I will be presenting at Friday’s PD in a workshop titled, “Building Relationships & Repairing Harm with Community Circles.” The workshop description reads: “Many students will need support and skills to grapple with their emotions and establish or reestablish connections. In this session, learn practical techniques for building empathy and forgiveness, strengthening relationships, and resolving conflicts with Community Circles.” Again, this is a practice I feel strongly about and that I will use, and have used, with students as a meaningful way of restoring peace and resolving conflicts. I am honored to be able to share this information with faculty and staff in the Diocese, but more importantly, I have confidence that this practice, as with Mindfulness, is positive for our students, who need as much support and guidance with interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships as they do with Math and Reading.
So, while you might enjoy a 3-day weekend, or have some special plans for Friday, please know that the SPN Faculty and Staff will be enhancing our knowledge and understanding of how to improve our students’ learning experiences with a special focus on Equity and Belonging!
