Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
CharacterStrong
We are thankful that you are a part of our school community! The world is changing quickly and we want to do everything we can to help students be successful in school and life.
We are excited to tell you that we will be using a program called PurposeFull People this year. This program teaches skills that will help students be successful in school and in life.
We believe that students should have safe, predictable places to learn where they feel included. Students should have healthy and helpful connections with teachers and classmates. They should also experience learning that will help them tackle challenges inside and outside of school. PurposeFullPeople is more than a set of lessons - it is a partnership between schools and families to create a place where students feel like they belong and learn skills that will help them be the best they can be!
Purposefull People has three main goals for students: Be Kind, Be Strong, and Be Well.
- Be Kind: Social skills like listening, friendship, solving conflicts, and leadership.
- These skills are taught alongside Empathy, Respect, & Cooperation
- Be Strong: Executive Functioning Skills that help students focus, stay organized, and set goals.
- These skills are taught alongside Responsibility, Courage, & Perseverance
- Be Well: Emotion Management Skills that help students handle their emotions and deal with stress.
- These skills are taught alongside Gratitude, Honesty, & Creativity
This year, you’ll be invited to join the fun! We will send letters home about the skills and strengths being taught each month. Each letter will include some ways to build these skills at home, discussion starters, and fun challenges you can try with your family.
The path forward is full of growth! We cannot wait to partner with you in this work…
- To teach students how to build strong friendships
- To work together to solve problems, big and small
- To grow skills for life
- To become PurposeFull People
Monthly Newsletters
PurposeFull People Newsletters
Families are sent monthly Purposefull People Newsletters by the School Counselor. The newsletter includes descriptions of what the student is learning and fun ways the family can practice the character trait at home. Each newsletter will include the following:
- Overview of the featured character trait
- Grade-level-specific information about what the child is learning
- Conversation starters for parents to engage in meaningful discussions with their child
- Weekly family challenges, or "pursuits," to strengthen family connections and practice classroom-taught skills
What does the research say about learning Character skills?
Studies have shown many benefits from learning skills for life success. Benefits from experiencing a program like ours increased:
- Academic performance
- Focus & engagement in the classroom
- Sense of belonging & safety at school
- Skills that promote social skills & positive character traits
- Probability of success in the workforce as an adult
(Bywater & Sharples, 2012; Corrales et al., 2016; Lei et al., 2018)
CharacterStrong.com/familystrong
Character & SEL Monthly Focus Topics
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September Focus- Respect & Social skills
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October Focus- Responsibility & Executive Functioning Skills
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November/December Focus- Gratitude & Emotion Management Skills
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January Focus- Empathy & Social Skills
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February Focus- Perseverance & Executive Functioning
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March Focus- Honesty & Emotion Management
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April Focus- Cooperation & Social Skills
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May Focus- Courage & Executive Functioning
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Beginning/End of Year Focus- Kindness