Social Emotional Learning in Action!

Mrs. McNamara and Ms. Pescatore's class playing a team building "questions" game outside.

Introduction:  From the "good morning" students receive at the front door from Mrs. Berton to the line of staff members ready to lend a cheer for success or a listening ear; each and every staff member at the Hatherly School understands the importance of building relationships with every individual student in the building.

One goal of a student's experience at the Hatherly School is to learn skills that impact their social emotional health. These lessons come in many forms including but not limited to:

• One set time once a week across the school for a social skills lesson. 
• Mrs. McNamara, adjustment counselor, and Mrs. Franke, school psychologist, provides additional weekly or bi-weekly lessons that are relevant to the specific age group. 
• Some students participate in more targeted small group or individual lessons such as lunch bunch or social group
• A student may not require a full lesson but instead a moment at the beginning of the day and a check-in at the end of the day for a little guidance. 
• All students are taught how to use a self referral form to communicate with a trusted adult.  The form has a spot for a name and a variety of symbols to circle including  “cloudy, stormy or tornados.  The weather symbols help to determine how quickly the student needs to be seen.
• Additionally fifth graders use this time slot to do informal check-ins with each student.This gives the students a chance to share anything they may not have been comfortable seeking help with on their own.

  Students take turns attending a lunch bunch with Mrs. Franke to play games that teach problem solving skills!

  Nurse Jessica, Mrs. Henry and Mrs. MacNamara lead a whole school lesson.