Supporting, Connecting, and Empowering Schools

School Support Network December Newsletter

Our team at the School Culture and Climate Initiative wishes you a wonderful holiday season filled with love and laughter. We look forward to continuing our partnership with you in the new year ahead! SSN Monthly Meeting Updates Somerset County SSN Meeting on December 4, 2019 - SMALL BUT MIGHTY! The December SSN meeting in Somerset County brought together a small group of those working in the education field who are committed to school climate improvement. The energy in the room was high and the discussions were robust. Attendees had the opportunity to build and deepen their relationships with colleagues. For a small gathering, the takeaways were significant! Please consider joining this SSN especially if you prefer networking and sharing ideas in a smaller setting.  Resources that were shared: Information on the GROW tool for goal exploration Window of Resilience image Dr. Dan Siegel video on "Flipped Lid" and brain under stress  Overview PowerPoint Due to inclement weather, the SSN Meetings in Warren County on December 3rd and Morris County on December 11th were rescheduled for next year. SCAIP PLC - Off to a Great Start in 2019/2020! A new PLC! Last spring, we launched a Professional Learning Community (PLC) dedicated solely to schools participating in the three-year School Climate Assessment and Improvement Process (SCAIP). On December 9th we held the first SCAIP PLC gathering of the 2019/2020 school year. Participants had the opportunity to share successes, share challenges and most importantly, connect and be inspired with others who are on the same journey of sustainable, intentional, data-based school climate improvement. Many thanks to Unity Charter School for hosting the gathering (and for the delicious breakfast!). The enthusiastic welcomes set the stage for a great gathering and it was especially inspiring to hear directly from the students at Unity how a positive school climate has impacted their lives.   This PLC is appropriate for schools that:  are just beginning to participate in SCAIP  are currently participating in SCAIP  or have completed the three-year process  All school levels (elementary, middle and high school) are encouraged to attend. For more information about this PLC and how you might benefit from it, contact Liz Warner , Co-Director of the School Culture and Climate Initiative.  Resources and Links SELinSchools.org - The Academy for SEL in Schools, a partnership between Rutgers University and the College of Saint Elizabeth, offers certificate programs for educators and educational leaders in social-emotional and character development. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) - CASEL is transforming American education through social and emotional learning. CASEL defined SEL more than two decades ago. Today, we collaborate with leading experts and support districts, schools, and states nationwide to drive research, guide practice, and inform policy. Edutopia - Edutopia is a trusted source shining a spotlight on what works in education. They show people how they can adopt or adapt best practices, and tell stories of innovation and continuous learning in the real world. U.S. Department of Education ESSA Guidance - Over the last several years, the U.S. Department of Education has been encouraging the coordinated use of federal funds by school districts. Such guidance encourages school districts to explore student needs and then consider how different funding sources could be used alone or in a coordinated way to address those needs. For title-specific guidance, visit their website . Aspen Institute’s National Commission on Social Emotional and Academic Development : From a Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope - Drawing on input from more than 200 scientists, youth and parent groups, educators, and policymakers, the final report seeks to accelerate and strengthen efforts to support the whole learner in local communities through recommendations for researchers, educators, and policymakers.

Spotlight Schools If you are interested in having your school featured as a “Spotlight School” to share best practices at a future SSN Meeting, please email Liz Warner . Upcoming SSN Meetings Join us at one of our upcoming SSN meetings in a county near you (Bergen, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren)! Details and registration information are available in the last section of this newsletter. Need Assistance with a School Climate Survey? 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.   Featured Article Teachers Say They’re Consuming Research. Putting It to Use Is Another Story This month’s featured article highlights survey findings that show that while most teachers do seek out academic research, this research does not necessarily inform their practices, nor do they believe that the research is particularly useful. In part, academic research is not easy to understand and many researchers do not seek out educator input at the onset. This, in turn, places the burden on educators to make the research relevant to teaching and learning.   Organizations like the School Culture and Climate Initiative have gained a lot of traction in the educational community because we help bridge this gap between research and practice. We synthesize the latest research findings and best practices and then develop the tools and strategies to make the findings actionable. To learn more about our services and supports, visit us online – the School Culture and Climate Initiative website is coming in early 2020! SEL4NJ  - SEL4NJ is a grassroots movement that brings together institutions, organizations and community members to form one strong voice advocating for SEL. Please join us!

STATE UPDATES

New Jersey Department of Education SEL – The NJ DoE has recently published the first SEL module for educators. Be sure to read the extensive notes section at the bottom of every slide. This is a wonderful resource for all educators in the state. Following is an excerpt from the website: Module 1: Competencies for School, Work, and Life: Introduction to Social and Emotional Learning Module Facilitation Guide Professional Learning Tip Sheet Associated Handouts (zip file) Modules 2-6: Coming Soon! Check out their website for other free resources, articles and lesson plans.

FUNDING/GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Sustainability Jersey for Schools – S ustainable Jersey for Schools has funding available for school climate work made possible through the support of the PSEG foundation.   Click here for more information. This grant cycle of the 2020 Schools Grants Program will award: Four (4) $10,000 project grants to school districts or schools Thirty (30) $2,000 grants to support school green teams Online Application Deadline:  March 13, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

Now is the time to start planning for next year... Be sure to set aside Title 1 funds and professional development funds to support your SEL and school climate work next year!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Bergen County Location for all meetings: Bergen County Community College , Room C-313 Time for all meetings: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. February 6, 2020 Leading a School of Social-Emotional Competence and Character: Everyone's Job Presented By: Maurice J. Elias, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University; Director, Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab; Co-Director, Academy for Social-Emotional Learning in Schools Register Now  April 23, 2020 The Importance of Adult Social-Emotional Skills: The Foundation for a Thriving School Community Presented By: Patricia C. Heindel, Ph.D., Dean, Professional Studies; Director, Center for Human and Social Development & the Center's School Culture and Climate Assessment Lab; Co-Director, School Culture and Climate Initiative; Co-Director, Academy for Social-Emotional Learning in Schools Register Now Essex County Coming in 2020!

Morris County Location for all meetings: College of Saint Elizabeth , Annunciation Center, Flex Rooms Time for all meetings: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. January 15, 2020 The Need for Coping Skills in an Age of Anxiety Presented By: Paul DePinto, Licensed Professional Counselor, Strength for Change, LLC Register Now February 12, 2020 Secure Attachment and the Impact of Trauma In Schools: Challenges, Solutions and How We Get There Presented By: Teresa LaSala, Positive Discipline Author and Lead Trainer, School Culture and Climate Specialist and Kathleen McClay Positive Discipline Trainer and School Culture and Climate Specialist Register Now March 18, 2020 The Importance of Adult Social-Emotional Skills: The Foundation for a Thriving School Community Presented By: Patricia C. Heindel, Ph.D., Dean, Professional Studies; Director, Center for Human and Social Development & the Center's School Culture and Climate Assessment Lab; Co-Director, School Culture and Climate Initiative; Co-Director, Academy for Social-Emotional Learning in Schools Register Now  Save the Dates April 22, 2020 May 20, 2020 Somerset County Location for all meetings: Hillsborough Library , Program Room AB Time for all meetings: 9:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. February 5, 2020 Secure Attachment and the Impact of Trauma In Schools: Challenges, Solutions and How We Get There Presented By: Teresa LaSala, Positive Discipline Author and Lead Trainer, School Culture and Climate Specialist and Kathleen McClay Positive Discipline Trainer and School Culture and Climate Specialist Register Now  Save the Date April 1, 2020

Sussex County Location for all meetings: Sussex County Technical School , McNeice Auditorium - Atrium Time for all meetings: 8:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. January 7, 2020 Secure Attachment and the Impact of Trauma in Schools: Challenges, Solutions and How We Get There Presented By: Teresa LaSala, Positive Discipline Author and Trainer, School Culture and Climate Initiative Specialist Register Now  Save the Dates March 3, 2020 May 5, 2020 Warren County Location for all meetings: Warren Hills Regional School District Time for all meetings: 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. February 4, 2020 The Importance of Adult Social-Emotional Skills: The Foundation for a Thriving School Community Presented By: Patricia C. Heindel, Ph.D., Dean, Professional Studies; Director, Center for Human and Social Development & the Center's School Culture and Climate Assessment Lab; Co-Director, School Culture and Climate Initiative; Co-Director, Academy for Social-Emotional Learning in Schools Register Now  Save the Date April 7, 2020

The School Culture and Climate Initiative is based at the Center for Human and Social Development at the College of Saint Elizabeth

For questions about SSN meetings, contact Liz Warner [email protected]

For questions about or difficulty with registration, contact Leighann Garland [email protected]