SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING: FIVE YEAR CURRICULUM

PROGRAM REVIEW, RESEARCH, & RECOMMENDATIONS

Kerry Huntington & Patr icia StaabJune 2011

Ridgewood Public Schools

The Social-Emotional Learning Committee

A group of 20 administrators, teachers, counselors, & parents met to:

Research ideal instructional programsWrite Mission StatementReview current programs in districtIdentify needsRecommend program revisions

SEL Committee Members

Kerry Huntington….................................. Supervisor of Special Programs

Patricia Staab ……………………………………. Supervisor of Special Education

Jeffrey Nyhuis …………………………………… Assistant PrincipalAnthony Orsini …………………………………. Principal of BFMSDavid Pfeiffer ……………………………………. Guidance CounselorNick Grimshaw …………………………………. TeacherNick Scerbo ………………………………………. Supervisor of

WellinessSusan Fink ……………………………………….. Social WorkerLorraine Zak …………………………………….. School PsychologistPat Civitello ……………………………………… LDT/CKevin Feeley …………………………………….. Crisis Intervention

CounselorLauren DePinto ………………………………… Crisis Intervention

Counselor

SEL Committee Members

Janice Lohr …………………………………………… School NurseBarbara Barbi ……………………………………….. Educational

SpecialistGeorgeAnn Starace ……………………………….. TeacherJane Kalfus …………………………………………… TeacherNancy Merck ………………………………………… Sp/Lang.

SpecialistVal McBurney ………………………………………. Social WorkerLisa Caron ……………………………………………. Parent

The SEL Committee met on January 27, March 24, & May 3, 2011

Research Ideal Instructional Programs

Teach children to apply Social-Emotional Learning skills & ethical values in daily life

Build caring & engaging classroom practices Provide developmentally & culturally appropriate

instruction Enhance school performance by addressing the

affective & social dimensions of academic learning Involve families & communities as partners Establish organizational supports & policies that

foster success Provide high-quality staff development & support Incorporate continuing evaluation & improvement

Mission Statement

The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Program of the Ridgewood Public Schools facilitates the students’ development of key life skills including lifelong learning, forming and maintaining relationships, communicating effectively, exhibiting appropriate empathy for others, and taking responsibility for personal health and well-being. The SEL Program provides a developmentally appropriate combination of direct instruction with on going informal and infused opportunities to practice social-emotional skills from preschool through high school. The goal of the SEL Program is to contribute to the optimal emotional and social development of our students such that they mature into responsible and caring individuals who have effective communication skills, knowledge of and practice in building relationships, connections with caring and supportive adults and peers, and act ethically and appropriately as problem solvers and decision makers who are productive, empowered and secure members of both their school community and adult society.

Current District Programs Review

Types of Activities Actions

Curriculum & Program Activities Open CircleHealth Units & PE Activities Good Citizen Units in Social

StudiesCharacter Study Units in LA

CurriculumCST CounselingStudent Council

Speech/Language Groups

Scheduled & School-Specific Activities

Principal Advisory TeamsWhole School Read-Alouds

Safety PatrolLunch Games

Community Building Activities

Elementary Schools

Current District Programs Review

Types of Activities Actions

Scheduled & School Specific Activities Stamp out BullyingAffective Surveys

Book ClubsDebates

Friday Words of WisdomSuggestion Boxes

ClubsBuddies & Pen Pals

Cross GradingMonthly ROCK Assembly

Weekly Community MeetingsField Day FamiliesPyramid of Success

NJ Bar Foundation ActivitiesJed Baker Social Skills Activities

Good Manners LunchTeacher Collaborative Meetings

Partner WorkParent Conferences

Elementary Schools

Current District Programs Review

Types of Activities Actions

Curriculum & Program Activities AdvisoryPeer Leadership

Literature discussionsLunch Bunch Groups

6th Grade CampStudent Government

ClubsCrisis Intervention Counselors

GuidanceNew Student Orientation

Health Units and PE ActivitiesCST Support

Middle Schools

Current District Programs Review

Types of Activities Actions

Scheduled & School-Specific Activities

Assembly TopicsBulletin Boards

Honoring StudentsRace to Nowhere

Heroes & Cool KidsFix-it Group

Social Psychology ClassGirls Group

7th Grade Service ProjectWeekly Team Meetings

Parent Conferences

Middle Schools

Current District Programs Review

Types of Activities Actions

Curriculum & Program Activities Wellness-Project AdventureCounseling curriculum

SAIL Social SkillsHeroes & Cool KidsRace to NowherePeer CounselorsFreshman Focus

Health Units and PE ActivitiesCrisis Intervention Counselors

CST Support

High School

Current District Programs Review

Types of Activities Actions

Scheduled Activities 8th Grade ToursYou Make a Difference

ClubsGay Straight AllianceStudent Ambassadors

Sharing the ArtsHope Club

Teacher & Student CollaborationEthnic FestivalsALPS Program

Peer based attendance interventions

Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Activities

High School

Identified Needs/Recommendations

Needs/Recommendations StatusDevelop a structured anti-bullying policy Accomplished

Add social worker to address mental health issues

Accomplished

Maintain Open Circle Clarified requirement of 30 minutes per week

Sponsor parent training and parent programs

To be scheduled during the 2011-2012 school year

Maintain communication between home and school

Ongoing

Provide social skills training for lunch aide Develop training protocols during the 2011-2012 & implement 2012 -2013

Supplement classroom libraries with texts about social emotional issues

Scheduled for 2011-2012 school year

Provide teacher training - PDD Scheduled for October 10, 2011

Elementary Schools

Identified Needs/Recommendations

Needs/Recommendations Status

Develop a structured anti-bullying policy

Accomplished

Continue to improve & support advisory program

Ongoing

Sponsor parent training and parent programs

To be scheduled during the 2011-2012 school year

Supplement classroom libraries with texts about social emotional issues

Scheduled for 2011-2012 school year

Middle Schools

Identified Needs/Recommendations

Needs/Recommendations StatueDevelop a structured anti-bullying policy Accomplished

Consider beginning an advisory program at RHS

Review program 2011-2012 and make recommendations through the Curriculum Council

Consider beginning senior/freshman mentoring program

Review program 2011-2012 and make recommendations through the Curriculum Council

Sponsor parent training and parent programs

To be scheduled during the 2011-2012 school year

Increased focus on suicide prevention and mental health strategies in health curriculum

To be implemented during the 2011-2012 school year

Consider alternative homework assignments

Review and make recommendations 2011-2012

Consider alternative high school Review and make recommendations 2011-2012

High School