SEL Word of the Month

"Gratitude"

November brings us the season of thanksgiving, a time when we collectively pause to reflect on the many blessings in our lives, and we turn our attention to the values that bind us together. This month, we will focus on "Gratitude" as our SEL Word of the Month.

Gratitude, at its core, is the quality of being thankful, an eagerness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. In these times, more than ever, we recognize the importance of fostering an environment where our students not only understand academic concepts but also develop a deep sense of appreciation for the world and people around them. Gratitude, a fundamental human emotion, is more than just saying "thank you." It's a deeper appreciation for someone or something, which often produces longer-lasting positivity.

Why should we focus on Gratitude?

Research has shown that Gratitude can:

• Enhance feelings of happiness and well-being.
• Foster positive relationships with peers and adults.
• Improve resilience in the face of challenges.
• Boost academic performance and motivation.
• Foster increased empathy and curtailed aggression.

Throughout November, there are a variety of ways we can encourage our students to be grateful, and some example activities are below.

Example Activities:

• Explore questions such as: What does it mean to be truly thankful? How can we show appreciation in meaningful ways? And how does Gratitude play a role in our daily lives?
• Gratitude Journals: Students could maintain gratitude journals, noting daily what they are thankful for, fostering a habit of reflection.
• "Thank You" Letter Campaign: Encouraging students to write letters of appreciation to family members, staff, peers, or community members.
• Gratitude Trees: Classes can craft trees where leaves represent things they're grateful for, creating a visual representation of our collective thankfulness.
• Community Service Projects: Participating in community service opportunities can deeply instill an understanding and appreciation of the surrounding community.

In closing, I am deeply grateful for the fantastic support of our community, our dedicated staff, and our exceptional students who inspire us daily. Let's embrace Gratitude this November, not just as a word but as a practice, a mindset, and a community value. Together, we continue to create a nurturing, vibrant learning community that champions academic excellence, extra-curricular success, and emotional well-being.

I hope you all have a November filled with moments of Gratitude and joy.

Together in Education,

Ben Necaise

Greetings,

A few educators in the district had the opportunity to attend the Math Refresh Tour- Baton Rouge session on last Tuesday. This tour is taking place across the state with a goal of highlighting and delving into some of the newest supplemental mathematical tools and resources now available or soon to be launched. While having a variety of resources is beneficial, our core resources remain pivotal in delivering top-notch instruction. Discussing how to incorporate extra materials should be a collaborative conversation among educators, teaching teams, and administrators. Our instructional specialists are on hand to aid in discussions about using supplementary materials alongside core instruction.

Action Item

On another note, thank you to those who have provided responses to the professional learning survey. It is vital to gather feedback from all teachers and instructional leaders in the Zachary Community School District who haven't yet completed the survey. Your input will guide the development of future professional learning sessions, ensuring they align with school objectives and meet educators' interests and need. Please remember that the deadline for responses is Friday, November 3rd.

Every month, the Academic Team section of the "Together in Education" newsletter features updates from our instructional specialists and spotlights an instructional focus from one of our Zachary community classrooms. These highlights are released during the first week of each month. Don’t forget to check it out.

Wishing you all a fantastic week!

All the best,

Tamara Johnson

Chief Academic Officer

Submit a Future Newsletter Item

Do you know of a celebration, announcement, or event that should be included in the newsletter? If so, you can use the form below to submit future item narratives, links, or visuals.

District and Departmental Updates

As discussed during our Principal Cohort meeting last week, weekly departmental updates and Key Action items will be placed in the School Leadership OneNote Notebook. District staff, principals, assistant principals, and deans have access to the notebook and can review all posted resources at any time by using the direct link below.

Guest Captain of the Week

The Zachary School Board and Zachary Athletics were honored to recognize Mr. Chris Seals as the Guest Captain of Friday night's homecoming game. He is an employee at Zachary High School. Our community and fellow employees nominated Mr. Seals for being a dedicated employee who ensures that our students with the most significant disabilities are seen, heard, included, and loved! He goes above and beyond to make sure his students have everything they need academically and socially. Seeing his interactions with students is inspirational and moving." Thank you for all that you do for our students every day!” #WeAreZachary

Mr. Tristan George, an 8th-grade English Teacher at NMS, participated in Louisiana's New Teacher Experience (NTE) and was featured in Louisiana's New Teacher Experience: Supporting Early Career Teachers informational video. In the video, Mr. George, alongside his fellow colleagues from the NTE cohort, offered a comprehensive overview of the NTE program and some of the challenges and invaluable experiences of being a first-year teacher. Mr. George explains that one of the benefits of the NTE was that it fostered collaborative relationships with fellow educators who are having similar experiences in the classroom. The NTE program required new teachers to complete interactive professional development learning modules followed by statewide meetings with the cohort to apply the acquired knowledge and skills. 

Mr. George was also recognized as one of the 2024 Louisiana New Teacher of the Year Finalists.

Click Below to View the Full Video

Zachary Area Reading Council (ZARC) Recruitment

Zachary Area Reading Council (ZARC) is a local reading council established in 2008 by a Zachary teacher with the goal of providing local PD opportunities that met the need of the educators in the Zachary Community School District. ZARC is an affiliate of the Louisiana Reading Association, the state reading association that partners with the International Literacy Assocation. ZARC won numerous awards with the state and international associations before CoVid. Since CoVid, the council has been inactive; however, a small group is working to once again provide an opportunity for educators to learn from each other. Professional development meetings, member socials, writing competitions for students, and future conference opportunities are all being discussed.  

What do YOU need to do? Visit Louisiana Reading Association | Membership (lareading.org) to join.