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Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process of acquiring the competencies to recognize and manage emotions, develop caring and concern for others, establish relationships, make responsible decisions, and handle challenging situations effectively. SEL competencies comprise the foundational skills for positive health practices, engaged citizenship, and school success (CASEL, 2013). Recent research has determined that effective SEL in schools significantly improves students’ social-emotional skills, attitudes about self and others, and social interactions.

Students playing in snow

Educating the mind without the heart is no education at all.

Aristotle

Why are we focusing on Social Emotional Learning?

In order to manage our complex and busy world and live vibrant and rewarding lives, students need to learn how to manage information, emotions, and relationships. We are focussing on Social Emotional Learning to develop students’ competencies in understanding themselves and others in our school environments and to develop their ability to apply these competencies in life beyond school.

What learning and actions are we doing?

Social Emotional Learning includes a number of competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has long been recognized as a critically important factor in education that support students’ personal, social, and academic success and well-being. SEL aligns with BC Curriculum’s Core Competencies, and our teachers continue to build their understanding of current practices of SEL, as it works in schools and in in their classrooms. Several Innovation grants were attached to SEL:

How will we know we are making enough of a difference?

Our learning about social emotional learning continues to develop. At this time, we are aware that students who are learning in environments that pay attention to SEL are developing resiliency and self-regulation skills. As part of our commitment to developing students’ and educators’ SEL learning, we will engage with students and schools with SEL Innovation Inquiry teams to ask questions, review samples of learning, and collect feedback. Examples of how we are making a difference will be updated annually below: