Over this past semester we have taken many opportunities to let you know about our wellness program and the content covered during these lessons. I take this opportunity once again to let you know about our wellness program.
Recently ISB hosted presenters from The Greater Good Science Center, Berkeley. This provided an opportunity for teachers and parents to increase their awareness of both the content and importance of social and emotional learning. Research supports the importance of social/ emotional skills in a student’s life. Students with strong social and emotional knowledge and skills are more successful academically as well as more able to lead meaningful, happier lives. For more information please go to the following link.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is a philosophy that is centered on the positive social and emotional development of each student. Each student must be assisted to develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and the ability to make responsible decisions that promote healthy living.
Our Wellness Program is taught weekly for 40 minutes during the last period of the day; it is taught by the Wellness teachers and the school counselors. The Wellness Program supports the teaching of social and emotional skills. Please ask your child who their Wellness teacher is. In Gr 6 the Wellness teachers are Mr. Johnson, Ms. Saddington, and Ms. Ahoy. In Gr 7 the Wellness teachers are Mr. Baron-Toaldo and Mrs. Serrano. In Gr 8 the Wellness teachers are Ms. Perkins and Mr. Hermann.
The Wellness lessons address empathy, communication skills, understanding different perspectives, negotiating and compromise, emotional management, coping with stress, safety, decision-making and relationship and sexual health.
The Wellness Program uses as its main resource a well-developed and researched program called “ Second Step”. This program was developed in the US and provides a curriculum that addresses the needs of MS students in a sequence suitable for grades 6 to 8.
As parents you play a critical role in helping your child develop strong social skills and if we work in partnership to develop these skills your child benefits. Each month in the MS newsletter, in the “Counselor Corner” section we will let you know what skills are being targeted over the month in the Wellness lessons. We will offer suggestions as to how you can support your child’s development of the skills being targeted. Please check the “counselor corner” section of the MS News at the start of each month for the details of what is being taught in Wellness.
You can also join www.secondstep.org with the activating key SSP7 FAMI LY23 to watch videos about the second step program and get information about what your child is learning.
We hope the monthly updates will provide lots of opportunities for you to play a role in developing your child’s social and emotional skills.
Warm Regards,
Carmel, Janel, and Jackie.