Social Emotional Well-Being
We recognize that the social emotional well-being of our students and staff during these challenging times is critically important. The school 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. The school has done this by:
Sending information home to families to help students transition back to the school setting. Mrs. Goyer will be creating videos for families to show the changes that have been made to the school and walk students/families through new procedures. Students will come back to school for two half days in September in order to slowly adjust to the new changes and protocols within the school building.
The school has established an advisory council that involves shared decision-making and is comprised of families, students, members of the board of education, 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 school 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:
Teachers in grades K-6 have been trained in the Pax Good Behavior Game program. Pax is an evidence based, trauma informed program which teaches students self-regulation skills in addition to improving classroom performance and better mental health outcomes. New teachers will go through training late August/beginning of September to be ready to use the program in their classrooms.
Teachers in our PreK program use mindfulness activities. Training is provided by the Troy City School District.
Catapult Learning also provides counseling services to our school once a week. Students, identified by their teacher, family member, or advisory council, as in need of services, will be recommended to the program.