This year, the Preschool and Lower School have made a concerted effort to strengthen our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. Our classroom and specialist teachers began the year with professional development with the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning (IFSEL).

In addition, the leadership of our new Head of School, Dr. Jen Weyburn, has given us several opportunities to revisit Packer's mission statement, which begins with “the importance of meaningful and sustained relationships.” We believe that learning happens best when students feel connected to each other, to their teachers, and to all the professionals throughout the school that care for their well being in so many different ways.

Read below for all the ways we have been encouraging healthy identity development and sustained relationships in our community.

Preschool

A significant part of the work Pre-K and Kindergarten students do every day rests on a foundation of SEL. Our youngest learners explore and identify their own feelings, their awareness of others, and how to function as part of a group. Teacher partnerships happen organically in the Packer Early Learning Center, as specialist and classroom teachers know the importance and value of supporting our youngest learners in this work so that they may become empathetic, caring individuals.

Lower School

In the First Grade, children have engaged in practicing Alphabreaths and acted out feelings for each other to practice reading body language.

In Second Grade, students have also reflected on body language by engaging in the activity called The Emotions Relay, and some have explored the idea of having multiple feelings at once through the expressive drawing activity Layers of Feelings.

In Third Grade, children have explored conflict de-escalation through graphic novel pages, and have learned how they can communicate nonverbally through an observational drawing activity.

In Fourth Grade, students have practiced connecting with their inner state through Check-In activities where they describe how they are presently feeling by connecting it to a rock, piece of fabric, or other random object. Students have also had some fun by performing as an Emotions Orchestra.

Some of the books that our Preschool and Lower School classes have worked with as part of this initiative include: The Proudest Blue, The Crayon’s Tale, When Aiden Became a Brother, Big Boys Cry, A Different Dragon, Julian is a Mermaid, Almandina, How Are You Peeling?, The Can Man, When Sophie Gets Angry, Sometimes I’m Bombaloo, Sulwe, and more. These titles and many more have been the springboard for deep and rich discussions about self and others.

— Erik Resurreccion
Assistant Head of Preschool and Lower School