Social Emotional Well-Being

Reopening Plan Main Page

We recognize that the social emotional well-being of our students and staff during these challenging times is critically important. The district has made available resources and referrals to address mental health, behavioral, and emotional needs of students, faculty, and staff when school reopens for in-person instructions. This has done this by:

  • Regular and ongoing meetings and conversations will occur among faculty and staff about at-risk students to determine supports and strategies
  • SEL will be the focus of the first two weeks of school re-opening to ensure relationship building and support for students and families
  • School will ensure that all students and families have a point of contact via outreach from a staff member’s regular communication and check in
  • SEL Team in each building will include administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, social worker, nurse, and teachers
  • Family survey will be conducted to determine SEL needs of students and families upon school reopening
  • Child Study Teams will provide tiered supports for SEL
  • Counseling plans will be reviewed for updates needed as appropriate
  • Counseling will be provided to students by qualified school personnel as identified by need, or in a crisis/as needed situation
  • School will work in conjunction with community partners to provide support for students, families, and staff (Family Counseling Center, St. Marys, Catholic Charities, etc)
  • School will continue to work with students and families with SEL curricular programs and strategies such as PAX, Restorative Practices and modified community circles as practical
  • Staff will be provided with opportunities to discuss and share experiences with peers through structured faculty meetings, grade level/department meetings, mentorship discussions, conversations with colleagues and administration, etc. Topics will include a variety of culturally, socially, and economically responsive issues
  • Faculty and staff will be provided opportunities to provide feedback on support needed through discussions, meetings, and surveys given

Peer Mentoring:

  • Students from grades 10, 11, and 12 can mentor students from grades 7, 8, and 9.
  • Committees of student mentors would then connect with mentees each month virtually to continue to provide mentees support throughout the school year.
  • If the school buildings reopen, then traditional face to face mentoring sessions, including community circles and other activities, can resume.

The district has established an advisory council that involves shared decision-making and is comprised of families, students, members of the board of education, school building and/or district/charter leaders, community-based service providers, teachers, certified school counselors, and other pupil personnel service providers. The advisory council will inform the comprehensive developmental school counseling program plan. This program plan has been reviewed and updated to meet current needs.

The district addresses professional development opportunities for faculty and staff on how to talk with and support students during and after the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as provide support for developing coping and resilience skills for students, faculty, and staff. This is addressed by:

  • Professional development will continue to be provided staff and faculty about trauma, ACES, and SEL
  • Resources, links and articles are distributed and posted for professional reference
  • Meetings of school committees and teams are focused on the individual learner
  • Teacher Assistants are utilized to ensure regular , direct contact is made through personal calls to each family

Peer Mentoring:

  • Staff training from the Boomerang Project in August, and then training for the student mentors.
  • Student mentors could provide a virtual school orientation during the first / second weeks of school.

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