Dear Parents/Guardians,
As we begin the school year, I am sending you prayers and positivity. Our students continue to amaze me with their resiliency, strength, courage, and adaptability. It has been refreshing to have the excitement and energy of our students back in the halls, in our classrooms, and on the fields. Whether your student is learning remotely or in-person, we are dedicated to providing them with a positive learning experience in which they feel safe and connected.
In doing so, one of our department's major focuses this year will be on social and emotional learning (SEL). Social and emotional learning is the process through which we acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to:
- Recognize and manage our emotions
- Set and achieve positive goals
- Demonstrate caring and concern for others
- Establish and maintain positive relationships
- Make responsible decisions
- Handle interpersonal situations effectively
Our newsletters, counseling lessons, and parent education series will all be cohesive. Each month, we will focus on one SEL topic and that will serve as our theme through everything that we do. Our focus for the fall months will include:
- Roles of the School Counselor
- Skills for Success/Growth Mindset
- Bullying Prevention
- Internet Safety
- Anger Management
As a parent/guardian, you are invited to join us in our Virtual Counselor Cafe where we will feature short presentations and provide resources on these topics for you. It is our goal to enhance our students' social and emotional learning, encourage responsible decision-making, foster positive growth and development, and promote respectful relationships as we encourage conversation around the opportunities and issues facing our students.
I look forward to partnering with you this year!
Sincerely,
Rachel Behren
Director of Student Services
