Monthly Administrative Updates
February 2023 Administrative Update
by: T'Hani Pantoja
Parkdale Elementary Principal
The Importance of Social-Emotional Education
The benefits of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) are well-researched, with significant evidence demonstrating that an education that promotes SEL yields positive results for students, adults, and school communities. Hundreds of studies show that SEL leads to beneficial outcomes related to social and emotional skills; attitudes about self, school, and community engagement; social behaviors; emotional distress; conduct problems; and academic performance. More recently, we have learned that using explicit instruction around SEL concepts builds emotional intelligence and agility, some of the most desired workforce skills.
Parkdale Elementary has started the new Character Strong program called PurposeFull People. This past fall, our emphasis was on Respect and Responsibility. As winter approached, we shifted our school-wide focus to learning about Empathy and Gratitude. Each morning, students hear motivational announcements about the current character traits, purposeful pursuits to practice those traits, and positive examples are shared and celebrated publicly. This year we have created school-wide acknowledgment systems that celebrate students “Caught being Character Strong.” School-wide activities include raising money for various organizations and practicing showing gratitude and celebrating our veterans and other people in our community. Most importantly, our teaching staff continues to introduce creative ways to integrate social-emotional learning into their curriculum.
This year, many teachers participated in Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures training and Restorative Practices training; learning techniques to create a culture of belonging in their classrooms. This training, supported by our Department of Curriculum and Instruction, helped our school find creative methods to engage students in social-emotional learning. Several classes use morning meetings and restorative circles to discuss the character traits. They talk about respect, responsibility, gratitude, and more. Gratitude jars are used, and opportunities to build responsible behaviors are offered. The fourth grade Leadership Program introduced the Safety Patrol, recycling, and began leading our public announcements. Second graders reinforced kindness through their 12 Days of Kindness activities and support service providers reinforce honesty as they play educational games. Third graders will be working on a literacy project and American Sign Language. Teachers also work on SEL-related lessons in more formal subjects, like math, social studies, and reading; utilizing the PurposeFull People curriculum to develop lessons that provide authentic opportunities to emphasize and reinforce character traits.
Our new Character Strong PurposeFull People Program materials allow Parkdale families to support the schools SEL by providing them with activities and conversation starters aimed at reinforcing character traits taught at school. Several parents have acknowledged how the family curriculum connects them to what is being taught and emphasized at school and allows a consistent message to continue at home.
In today’s environment, we as a community must actively work together to ensure our children are equipped with these traits to prepare them to be leaders in crafting what we want our world to be. Every day we see examples of this at Parkdale as students’ take the initiative to welcome new classmates, learn to manage and control how they behave in different situations, and work to develop healthy relationships. These initiatives make the EAUFSD and the greater East Aurora community one that stands out above the rest. Our collaborative focus on social-emotional learning will indeed continue to benefit our students, school and community. “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” Helen Keller. When we work together, we build a stronger East Aurora.