Staff

Volunteers needed

We are looking for volunteers to help support the intentional use of social and emotional learning in the district by serving on our SEL Advisory Council. The SEL Advisory Council will meet 4 times a year and provide feedback on our use of SEL in the district. We are looking for a diverse group of representatives including parents, campus staff, and community members.   

Apply for the SEL Council

About SEL

Social and Emotional Learning is the process of developing self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills necessary for life. SEL builds relationship skills, self-awareness, social awareness, self-management and responsible decision making. In practice, SEL grows important soft skills like:

  • understanding and managing emotions

  • setting and achieving positive goals

  • feeling and showing empathy for others

  • establishing and maintaining positive relationships

  • making responsible decisions

Our mission is to help create an environment of equity and excellence in our schools. We do this using SEL by:

  • empowering learners by developing SEL skills
  • fostering open and equal environments
  • cultivating partnerships that help our community develop and thrive

We use the basics to guide our use of SEL in our district:

  • relationship building
  • developing student grit
  • creating engaging learning spaces
  • Whole Child Development

All campuses have selected activities that highlight these practices.  We target these building blocks in our instruction and through the three signature practices:

  • Welcoming activities
  • Engaging practices
  • Optimistic closures

SEL at home

We encourage families to use the “Three Signature Practices” at home similar to the school environment. When students see a respectful partnership between home and school that helps them, they are likely to have positive attitudes about school and be successful. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has a direct impact on creating connectedness among staff, students and parents.

Welcoming activities

  1. Say a good morning greeting to everyone in the house.
  2. Discuss what everyone in the family is grateful for before leaving the house.
  3. Have a morning affirmative phrase to say as a family for starting the day.

Engaging practices

  1. Cook a family meal together and eat together.
  2. Enjoy a weekly family game night.
  3. Allow your child to have a voice in expressing their emotions.
  4. Practice problem-solving skills and conflict resolution scenarios.

Optimistic closure

  1. Engage in a "Mindful Minute" before going to bed (see ideas in the Family Coping Kit resources below).
  2. Tell a family member what you appreciate about them before going to bed at night.
  3. Encourage each family member set a goal for the next day.

SEL Resources for families

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Contact us

Have questions? We're here to help.

Stay up to date with GISD SEL by following us @gisdsel on Twitter and Instagram.