We wish you all a lovely holiday season and hope you will find time for yourself (you deserve it!) and for some fun and laughter. We are not holding a School Support Network meeting this month (the calendar was crazy); instead we invite you to take part in our holiday quiz -- all fun and a new way to connect! We will be sure to share the results in January.
Below in the newsletter you will find services and resources available from the School Culture and Climate Initiative to provide schools with the support they need as we move into 2023. With this newsletter we wish you all a restorative, fun, and love-filled winter break!
|
We provides the following supports:
Data Collection and Analysis
School Climate Assessment Lab
A data-driven approach ensures that decisions are grounded in facts, that resources are used widely and that progress can be identified, measured and celebrated.
- Assessment Interpretation and Support – including post-survey support for the new NJ DoE Climate Survey
- Custom Evaluation Services
-
Specific Assessment tools available and supported by the Lab: School Culture and Climate Assessment Survey; Equity and Inclusion Survey (middle school and high school); Panorama Social-Emotional Learning Survey; Panorama Well-Being Survey; School Health Assessment Survey; Spectrum Diversity School Climate and Bullying Prevention Survey
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Phased foundational approach to building understanding and capacity within a school and district.
- Approach includes data collection on perceptions of equity and inclusion, staff professional development, an equity audit, creating a customized plan for on-going work and personalized support throughout the process.
Professional Development
- All of our PD topics support our commitment to improving a school’s culture and climate and integrating social-emotional and character development in the classroom and school-wide all designed specifically for your school/district.
- Topic areas include among others SEL, school climate, trauma-informed approach, staff mental health/wellness, cultural competencies including DEI topics.
-
Staff Well-being Workshop Series “Building Within: Cultivating Well-being and Emotional Resilience in Educators”
-
School and District Leadership Series "Foundations of a Systemic Approach to Positive School Climate"
- View our list of PD offerings.
Professional Learning Networks
School Support Network
Changing school climate is no easy task, but it can be done with the right resources and when we surround ourselves with other professionals who are committed to achieving the same vision and goals.
- Monthly School Support Network Meetings
- Offered virtually
- Topic focused – Professional Development on relevant topics offered at each meeting
Coffee Chats and Job-Alike Coffee Chats
- Monthly opportunities for educators to come together, share successes and challenges
- Offered virtually
- Wonderful opportunity for connection and problem solving
School Climate Professional Learning Community (SCAIP PLC)
- For schools who are beginning, in the midst of, or who have completed a three-year intentional approach to school climate improvement
- A chance to share successes, challenges, and connect with colleagues across a variety of schools who are on a similar path
School Climate Improvement
School Climate Assessment and Improvement Process
- When schools join the School Climate Assessment and Improvement Process (SCAIP), they embark on a three-year, individualized, data driven process with the guidance and support of experts in the field of school climate and social-emotional learning.
- It is a fully supported comprehensive process which includes data collection and analysis, in-depth data review, consultant support over three years, assistance in team formation, support in the development and implementation of school improvement action plans, and participation in PLC’s with other participating schools.
SEL Coaching
- We provide one-on-one or small group coaching for educators who are interested in honing their own skills in incorporating social-emotional learning and creating a positive climate in their classroom.
- Educators and our coaches form strong coaching partnerships and collaboratively identify personal development goals.
- Coaches provide modeling, observation and feedback, and spend quality time with educators, across a number of months and ideally a full academic year.
The School Culture and Climate Initiative is here to support you! Contact us for more information on any of our services!
|
By Maurice J. Elias, Nina A. Murphy, and Kellie A. McClain
Transitioning from home to school can be chaotic-but it doesn't have to be. When you make Morning Classroom Conversations (MCCs) a regular part of your homeroom or advisory period, you give students a safe space to practice critical and creative thinking, build active listening skills, learn to respectfully disagree with others, and strengthen peer relationships…all while improving overall classroom climate.
Written by expert practitioners in the area of SEL, this book provides teachers, school counselors, and other conversation leaders with a wealth of tools to guide successful MCCs from start to finish-in just 10-15 minutes!
|
|
School Support Network (SSN) meetings are free and everyone is welcome to attend. Share with your colleagues!
All meetings are held virtually from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET.
|
No SSN Meeting in December - enjoy the holiday season! |
January 18
"Planning for Sustainability of SEL from the Start: Lessons from the Field"
Presented by: Maurice J. Elias, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University
The field of SEL was founded in 1997; since then we have learned how to implement and sustain SEL in a wide range of settings. The principles are known; the difficulties come as conditions become challenging, pressures from academics are intense, personnel with key responsibilities are not provided with adequate training, coaching, or consultation, when there is no external implementation support network, when there is an attempt to accelerate the pace of change unrealistically, or when calamities, like COVID, disrupt the entire education system. The time to plan for sustainability is not when the crisis hits - it’s from the start. Participants will leave with an overview of the principles of sustainability, the derailers, and relevant strategies to foster optimal, feasible practice.
|
SAVE THE DATES
February 15
March 22 (tentatively in-person from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.) presented by Patrick Fennell
April 19
May 17
|
Coffee chats are virtual gatherings that allow schools to connect with one another. Participants have shared successes, challenges, and ideas with their colleagues during our past coffee chats. Coffee chats are held from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. ET and are open for all to attend.
January - No coffee chat
|
These are coffee chats where we bring together educators in similar roles. While collaborating with colleagues in diverse roles has its advantages, gathering with those in the same professional role allows you to explore more in-depth job-specific concerns, issues and potential strategies.
These coffee chats are held from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
School Counselor Coffee Chat
Administrator Coffee Chat
|
"Integrating SEL and School Climate Improvement Work into Your School Using Framework of Core Values"
Presented by: Liz Warner and Trish Heindel, School Culture and Climate Initiative Co-Directors
|
Uplifting Hearts, Connecting Minds
March 10, 2023
Watch your email for details as they become available!
|
|
The SEL4NJ School Provider and Quality Implementation (SPQI) Work Group Needs Your Help! |
|
The School Culture and Climate Initiative, as a part of the School Provider and Quality Implementation (SPQI) workgroup coordinated by SEL4NJ and the Newark Trust for Education, is excited to announce the roll out of a statewide survey to collect data that will help develop a customized framework for effective school-provider relationships that support high-quality SEL implementation. We would like to get the perspectives of school-based staff, providers, district administrators, and parents/caregivers on this critical and timely topic. For more information about the SPQI workgroup and how the survey data will inform our efforts, please read our project brief.
We would greatly appreciate you taking the time to fill out our survey. It should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Additionally, if you know of anyone whose perspective would be important to include, please feel free to forward them the links. We will be raffling off ten $10 gift cards to those who submit a response.
Please select one stakeholder group that you feel you best represent and fill out the corresponding survey using the appropriate the QR code below. The deadline for completion is December 23.
|
|
|
|
Professional Development, Webinars, and Resources |
|
CASEL Webinar "Demystifying Systemic Social and Emotional Learning Series"
This monthly series of thought leadership webinars addresses ten key aspects of high-quality systemic SEL. Join CASEL and collaborators for insights on prioritizing academic, social, and emotional learning for all students across all school contexts.
Recommended for: Education leaders and researchers at the state, district, and school levels.
"Demystifying Systemic Social and Emotional Learning: Community Partnerships"
December 16 - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST
|
|
|
|
Future Directions in Social and Emotional Learning and Education
A review of evidence-based practices in social and emotional learning from infancy through early adulthood. Current work focuses on addressing the sustainable scaling for families, schools and communities. Learn more
|
|
|
"Social and Emotional Skill Progression in Preschool"
by Maurice J. Elias
Like cognitive development, kids’ social and emotional skill development has a typical trajectory that teachers can track and guide. Read more
"How to Make Students Feel Welcome Every Day"
by Beth Pandolpho
High school teachers can use these strategies to keep students engaged in learning throughout the year. Read more
|
|
|
|
Social-Emotional Learning: What Really Works
Social-emotional learning is at a critical moment in its evolution. Some school district SEL programs have run up against intense opposition from parents and politicians, who take issue with how SEL development is being linked to learning about racism, sexism, and LGBTQ issues.
To properly address these challenges, schools will need to properly communicating to their communities what their SEL programs actually teach; designing social-emotional learning strategies that are tailored to the specific needs of their communities; and evaluating the effectiveness of those strategies. This special report provides a roadmap for how to make that happen. Read more
|
|
|
School Culture and Climate Initiative
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
