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Supporting, Connecting, and Empowering Schools
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SSN Monthly Meeting Updates
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Sussex County SSN Meeting on
January 7, 2020
At the January SSN meeting in Sussex County, there was a good turnout for Teresa LaSala's and Kathleen McClay’s presentation on trauma and how it affects students. Attendees were able to ask questions
throughout the presentation
and participate in activities. The group was lively and actively engaged from beginning to end. Feedback from the participants was positive and they felt the presentation was valuable and worthwhile. Below are a few important websites mentioned throughout the meeting:
- CASEL.org
- PositiveDiscipline.org
- NCTSN.org
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Morris County SSN Meeting on January 15, 2020
Paul DePinto again wowed the large gathering of counselors, teachers, principles and others attending the Morris County School Support Network meeting. He provided, in true New Jersey style, concrete tips and tools that school counselors and teachers can share with their students that will help build coping skills among students and reduce anxiety relating to school pressures. He educated participants in cognitive behavioral therapy and how tools from this theory can be effective in reducing anxiety. Paul emphasized the importance of having a rapport with students in order for them to find success with this topic. We hope to have Paul return to provide the same workshop to our other SSN counties!
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F.N. Brown Elementary School/Verona Schools
The Peace Place is a place where students can solve conflicts independent of an adult. It is a location that is in every classroom and general school areas including on the blacktop. Tools and resources are in the Peace Place for students, if needed. Each teacher points out the Peace Place and reviews its usage at the start of the school year.
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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
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February 4, 2020
Warren County
8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Topic: The Importance of Adult Social-Emotional Skills: The Foundation for a Thriving School Community
Presenter:
Patricia C. Heindel, Ph.D.
February 5, 2020
Somerset County
9:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Topic:
Secure Attachment and the Impact of Trauma in Schools: Challenges, Solutions and How We Get There
Presenters:
Teresa LaSala and Kathleen McClay
February 6, 2020
Bergen County
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Topic: Leading a School of Social-Emotional Competence and Character: Everyone's Job
Presenter:
Maurice J. Elias, Ph.D.
February 12, 2020
Morris County
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Topic:
Secure Attachment and the Impact of Trauma in Schools: Challenges, Solutions and How We Get There
Presenters:
Teresa LaSala and Kathleen McClay
March 2, 2020
Sussex County
8:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Topic: Leading a School of Social-Emotional Competence and Character: Everyone's Job
Presenter:
Maurice J. Elias, Ph.D.
March 18, 2020
Morris County
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Topic: The Importance of Adult Social-Emotional Skills: The Foundation for a Thriving School Community
Presenter:
Patricia C. Heindel, Ph.D.
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Save the Dates
April 1, 2020 -
Somerset County
April 7, 2020 - Warren County
April 22, 2020 - Morris County
April 23, 2020 - Bergen County
May 5, 2020 - Sussex County
May 20, 2020 - Morris County
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The School Support Network is partnering with SEL4NJ to promote
SEL Day
on
March 27th
. We are encouraging all schools in NJ to participate in someway! Between now and March 27th we will be collecting artifacts (video, photos, blogs, podcasts, etc..) that showcase and highlight the amazing SEL (broadly defined) work taking place in our NJ schools! Please sign-up to participate in some way with the following link
SEL Day Sign-up
. Between now and March 26th we will be collecting SEL artifacts of work going on schools. Please send your completed artifact to
liz@schoolcultureandclimate.org
. All artifacts will be tweeted out on March 27th along with the artifacts being collected from around the country and from around the world! More information will be shared in the up-coming weeks.
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Funding/Grant Opportunities
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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.
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!
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NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants
are available to teachers, counselors, and education support professionals for programs that improve student achievement and focus on critical thinking, problem-solving, and 21st century skills. Amounts are $2,000 and $5,000, and funds can be used throughout the year for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, and technology. Applications are reviewed three times each year; the next
application deadline is February 1, 2019
, with funding notification on April 15, 2019.
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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:
Modules 2-6: Coming Soon!
Check out their
website
for other free resources, articles and lesson plans.
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This month’s article focuses on the importance of educator self-care. Working in this field can be emotionally, mentally and even physically demanding. And because we tend to be focused on the needs of our students, we don’t always take the time to notice or tend to our own needs which can make us prone to burnout. The author of this article offers some tips and strategies for showing yourself care and compassion.
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And we’d love to hear from you! In what ways do YOU practice self-care? Please email
Leighann Garland
(subject line: Self-care) to share your thoughts and ideas! We will compile submissions and include them in next month’s newsletter.
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Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators 1st Edition, by Elena Aguilar (Author)
This books addresses the issue of educator stress and provides practical advice to help teachers avoid burnout. Stress is part of the job, but a simple shift in mindset can help build resilience and ensure that our physical, mental, and emotional needs become a priority.
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This video is part of the "
How Learning Happens"
series, which explores teaching practices grounded in the science of learning and human development. Edutopia developed this series in collaboration with the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, with support from the
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
.
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This publication, created by Rand Corporation, provides helpful advice about how Title I, Title II and Title IV funds can all be used to support SEL and school climate work.
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Need Assistance with a 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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The School Culture and Climate Initiative is based at the Center for Human and Social Development at the College of Saint Elizabeth
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For questions about SSN meetings, contact Liz Warner
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For questions about or difficulty with registration, contact Leighann Garland
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