Second Step Middle School Curriculum

Exciting news: RLRS has purchased the new digital version of the Second Step Social Emotional Program to enhance and reinforce our K-5 program that we purchased and started to implement last school year. Parents of our MS students will receive for each lesson, a lesson summary and lesson question encouraging them to engage in lessons and reinforce at home. Please contact your students classroom teacher or the school counselor (Brittany Russell) with any questions.


Dear Family,


We are excited to tell you about a new curriculum being introduced at RLRS, the Second Step Middle School Program. This program focuses on social emotional development with an emphasis on nurturing healthy and resilient students.


We want your child to be successful in school, and that means going beyond the basics. Excelling in academic classes is important, but students also need to know how to learn, make good decisions, handle strong emotions, and get along with others.


This week, we'll begin the Second Step Middle School Program, which focuses on skills and concepts that are designed to help students both in and out of school. These include:


Mindsets and Goals: Students learn about ways to grow their brains and get smarter, along with research-based strategies for achieving goals and handling difficult situations.


Values and Friendships: Students learn to identify their personal values and use those values to make good decisions and build strong, positive relationships.


Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions: Students learn the positive role emotions play in their lives, how to handle unhelpful thoughts and strong emotions, and specific strategies for calming down.


Serious Peer Conflicts: Students learn how to identify and avoid serious conflicts, resolve conflicts that can't be avoided, think about other people's perspectives, and help stop bullying and harassment at school.


You should expect to receive an email from your child’s homeroom teacher about every week that gives a brief explanation of the most recent lesson AND a great question to generate discussions with your child. We encourage you to have these conversations.


If you have any questions about the Second Step Middle School Program, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s homeroom teacher for more information. Thank you for supporting your child in learning the skills and concepts that lead to success in school and in life.


Sincerely,

Brittany Russell (K-8 School Counselor)

6th Robin George (rgeorge@rangeleyschool.org) x120

6th Sarita Crandall (scrandall@rangeleyschoo.org) x119

7th Janet Welch (jwelch@rangeleyschool.org) x125

8th Kelsey Orestis (korestis@rangeleyschool.org) x121