We hope you have enjoyed the summer and found a number of enjoyable, restorative opportunities to replenish the soul (and mind and body). With school starting and a chance for new beginnings we would love for you to join us at our first School Support Network meeting of this academic year on September 21st. Christa Tinari will share ideas and tips on how to start strong using a strengths based approach to creating a positive school climate. We hope this will be a positive, helpful way to begin the year with ideas that can be implemented in your schools and classrooms right away (details in the right-hand column). We hope to see you at the SSN and/or at one of our monthly coffee chats! |
The School Culture and Climate Initiative offers high-quality professional development for educators and the wider school community. This includes community-based and faith-based organizations that are committed to working with and on behalf of students and families. All of our PD topics support our commitment to improving a school’s culture and climate and integrating social-emotional and character development in the classroom and school-wide. PD is encouraged in the context of a longer-term partnership in order to maximize its effectiveness. We listen to your needs and customize PD that best meets the needs of your school.
Workshops are delivered by our expert partners and are designed to bridge the gap between research and practice. They can be delivered with small or large groups and the length of each session can be adjusted to fit your schedule. Most workshops can also be provided both in-person or virtually.
Workshop Series:
“Building Within: Cultivating Well-being and Emotional Resilience in Educators”
Held the third Wednesday of each month from September through January:
September 21, October 19, November 16, December 14, January 18 from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. EST
Series topics include:
- Understanding, accepting, and positively responding to emotions
- Cultivating the perseverance, patience and courage needed to manage change
- Strengthening compassion and gratitude for the self and others
- Building strong, healthy classroom communities
"Foundations of a Systemic Approach to Positive School Climate"
A new professional development workshop series for school and district leadership
Held every other Thursday from September through December:
September 22, October 6, October 20, November 3, November 17, and December 1 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST
- Explore a framework for an integrated, systemic, and sustainable approach to positive school climate.
- Discuss examples of what this approach looks like in practice.
- Discuss common challenges and solutions involved in implementing the approach.
- Craft a communication plan to apply this model locally.
Check our website for a full list of PD offerings. Contact us to discuss how we can customize PD to meet your needs!
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Please share our newsletter with your friends, colleagues, and community members who might benefit from our resources, SSN Meetings, Coffee Chats, and PD! |
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School Support Network (SSN) meetings are free and everyone is welcome to attend. Share with your colleagues! |
"Starting Strong: Fostering a Positive School Climate Through a Strengths-Based Approach"
September 21 - 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
During this presentation, we’ll take stock of the ways in which we’ve grown stronger the past few years, and explore what it really means to apply a strengths-based approach to our work with students and colleagues.
Presented by: Christa M. Tinari, M.A., Senior International Trainer, Social Emotional and Ethical Learning Program
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SAVE THE DATES
October 19 - 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
November 16 - 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
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Coffee chats are virtual gatherings that allow schools to connect with one another. Participants have shared successes, challenges, and ideas with their colleagues during our past coffee chats. Coffee chats are held from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. and are open for all to attend.
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These are coffee chats where we bring together educators in similar roles. While collaborating with colleagues in diverse roles has its advantages, gathering with those in the same professional role allows you to explore more in-depth job-specific concerns, issues and potential strategies. These coffee chats are held from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
School Counselor Coffee Chat
Administrator Coffee Chat
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PD, Webinars, and Resources |
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CASEL Webinar "What Makes Me? Core Capacities for Living and Learning"
August 30 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT
A recent report from UNICEF, the Learning for Wellbeing Foundation, and the Fetzer Institute reveals nine core capacities for living and learning and underscores the importance of noticing and nourishing these capacities from birth through adulthood in child policy and practice. Often overlooked as innate or basic skills, these capacities are underutilized in efforts to promote child rights, well-being, education, and holistic development. The report, a meta-analysis of hundreds of published research articles worldwide, has positively confirmed the significance of social and emotional learning. By protecting and promoting the development of these capacities, children can better understand themselves and others, and interact with the world around them, for life and for learning, and realize their unique potential. This session is recommended for professionals working in the area of social and emotional learning and child development, and related public policies. Register here
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CASEL Webinar "Strengthening the Parent-Teacher Partnership"
September 7 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT
Partnering with students’ parents and caregivers is as important as knowing your students. Join us to explore the challenges and rewards of establishing strong partnerships with students’ families. Learn about the importance of helping parents feel welcome and included in the school community. Hear strategies for establishing and nurturing positive relationships and for strengthening those connections through parent involvement in the classroom. Discover the unique opportunities a culturally plural classroom presents for developing empathy and understanding among all stakeholders. Register here
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CASEL Water Cooler
"Our Favorite Tools for Starting the School Year"
"Beginnings matter. As teachers know, students walk through the doors after summer break with their own unique stressors, hopes, and expectations. This is the ideal time to roll out the community-building strategies and routines you will integrate throughout the year to help ensure students feel engaged and supported. Creating joyful classroom environments, where curiosity and collaboration are the norm, requires centering students’ social, emotional, and academic needs." CASEL has pulled together some resources for bringing SEL into the first days and weeks of the school year. Read more
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Article: "The First 5 Days: The Key to Success"
Make the start of the new school year go smoothly by preparing for students’ questions and anxieties before the first day of class. Read more
Article: "Using Restorative Justice to Transform School Culture"
When restorative justice is implemented on a schoolwide level, it has the potential to transform relationships between teachers and students. Read more
Article: "How Assistant Principals Can Influence School Climate"
Assistant principals are in a good position to build relationships with students, observe group dynamics, and prevent conflict before it starts. Read more
Article: "Balancing Friendliness With Firmness"
By setting clear expectations for behavior early on, teachers can have fun with their students without losing control of their classrooms. Read more
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Why do the majority of parents, caregivers support social and emotional learning for their children? CASEL partnered with families nationwide to answer that question. Hear real parents share the real impact of SEL on their families here.
Leading with SEL is a coalition of education organizations and associations in support of social and emotional learning (SEL), facilitated by CASEL.
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Need Assistance with your School Climate Survey? |
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The School Climate Assessment Lab (Lab), which is part of the School Culture and Climate Initiative, offers a variety of reliable and useful tools along with data analysis and reporting, and assistance with interpreting the data for action planning. If you are seeking a school climate survey to use in the coming year, the Lab can assist you with administration of the School Culture and Climate Assessment Survey for students and staff (online or paper; English or Spanish); data analysis and a customized data report; and an in-person data review to discuss findings, strengths and opportunities for growth. For those schools seeking additional support in addressing those opportunities for growth, consider participating in the School Climate Assessment and Improvement Process (SCAIP), a three-year individualized school improvement process. SCAIP includes all of the Lab services mentioned but also offers additional guidance and support from a school climate expert. To learn more about the Lab or SCAIP, contact Patricia Heindel, Ph.D., Co-Director of the School Culture and Climate Initiative.
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School Culture and Climate Initiative
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