Social and Emotional Learning

While academic performance and cognitive skills are essential components of a child’s education, we believe that the most important factor in determining a child’s future success, and, more importantly, his or her future happiness and fulfillment, is social and emotional intelligence. Social and emotional intelligence includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. I

Our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program is guided by our student counselor, Mrs. Mhaysie Ruiz ([email protected]). In addition to leading the SEL curriculum, Mrs. Ruiz is responsible for mediating issues between children at all grade levels, facilitating conflict management, and providing one-on-one counseling for children as needed.

Our SEL curriculum includes a number of specially-developed programs:

Second Step. This program, taught to students in grades kindergarten through five, includes lessons from four categories: Skills for Learning, Empathy, Emotion Management, and Problem Solving. Children are encouraged to integrate social justice and morally correct behavior into their daily lives. 

 

Junior High SEL. A social and emotional program has been developed for the middle school students to allow for small group discussion. A drug education component is included for our seventh and eighth graders and their parents.

St. Brendan Peacemakers. Our Student Peacemaker program empowers select 5th-8th grade students with conflict resolution skills, which they then impart to our younger children during recess and lunch hours. Our Peacemakers serve as mentors and role models for younger students, and their activities enhance the Social and Emotional Learning curriculum with a spirit of community and collaboration.