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Vision for Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Newtown Public Schools is committed to the development of social and emotional skills. We believe social-emotional learning competencies are essential for students to be successful in our schools and become contributing citizens in our local and global communities.
Central to our belief is that students can continually progress in their abilities to manage emotions, make responsible decisions, work cooperatively, resolve conflicts, and overcome challenges. This progress depends on effective teaching of SEL skills, opportunities to practice SEL skills in school, and a school culture where everyone is engaged in SEL using a common language and research-based practices.
The links in the About SEL section provide an overview of SEL in Newtown Public Schools.
Click here to visit the NHS webpage and learn more about Social Emotional Learning.
What is SEL?
What is SEL?
Social and Emotional Learning is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Newtown Public Schools aligns its SEL approach with the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning’s Framework for Social and Emotional Learning (www.casel.org)
What are the SEL Competencies?
What are the SEL Competencies?
Why is SEL Important?
Why is SEL Important?
How Do We Teach SEL Skills?
How Do We Teach SEL Skills?
SEL skills can be taught in many settings and using a variety of approaches. In Newtown, we help students develop social and emotionally through:
Explicit and integrated SEL instruction
Fostering SEL-infused routines & practices
Cultivating a safe, supportive, engaging school culture
Providing support to students who struggle with social
emotional, and behavioral concerns.Coordinating efforts between school, home, and
community partners.
Newtown SEL Programs and Practices
Newtown SEL Programs and Practices
Also Supporting K-12 SEL development:
School Counseling Classroom Lessons, Programs & Services
Physical Education and Health Departments
Measuring SEL Progress
Measuring SEL Progress
How do we measure student progress in developing social and emotional learning competencies?
Regular review of school-wide data such as attendance, discipline referrals, counselor visits, and grades.
Student surveys:
Annual Safe School Climate Survey: Administered in the spring to students in grades 3-12, staff, and parents, this survey provides feedback on school culture and the learning environment
Social Emotional Learning Survey: Administered in both the fall and spring, this survey is administered to students in grades 5-12. Questions are designed to elicit students’ reflections on their strengths related to growth mindset, self-management, social awareness, self-efficacy, and emotion regulation.
Growth Mindset: Student perceptions about whether they have the potential to change those factors that are central to their performance in school.
Self-Management: How well students manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations.
Social Awareness: How well students consider the perspectives of others and empathize with them.
Self-Efficacy: How much students believe they can succeed in achieving academic outcomes.
Emotion Regulation: How well students regulate their emotions.
School leadership teams analyze data at the school level to determine areas in need of improvement and develop action plans. School counselors also review data to inform decisions regarding the types of lessons to offer in classrooms and the types of groups they can offer to students throughout the year.
Click on the links below to view the survey questions:
Grade 5 SEL Survey Questions 2019-2020
Grades 6-12 SEL Survey Questions 2019-2020.pdf
SEL Resoucres
SEL Resoucres
Newtown recognizes social and emotional learning begins at home, and SEL skills can be taught and reinforced by parents and community partners. Developing SEL skills helps our families and communities be strong and healthy.
Edutopia - Social Emotional Learning
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Committee for Children, ParenTeen Connect
Have a child who is struggling socially or emotionally?
District Safe School Climate
District Safe School Climate
Newtown Public Schools promote positive teaching and learning environments where students and adults feel socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically safe. We believe each school community member should be treated with dignity and have the opportunity to learn, work, interact, and socialize in a safe, respectful, and positive school environment. A safe and healthy school climate is free from threats, harassment, and any type of bullying behavior.
For more information, see our District Safe School Climate Plan and Board of Education policies on Safe School Climate and Bullying Prevention. You can also find suggestions on how to report mean behavior, including anonymous reporting options.
If you have questions, please contact your school's Safe School Climate Specialist.
School Contact Person
Hawley School Carla Tischio, Lead Teacher
Head O'Meadow School Karen Dreger, Lead Teacher
Middle Gate School John Sullivan, Lead Teacher
Sandy Hook School Kelly MacLaren, Lead Teacher
Reed Intermediate School Jenna Connors, Assistant Principal
Newtown Middle School Brian Walsh, Assistant Principal
Newtown High School Paul Ribeiro, Assistant Principal
Click here for more information on District Safe School Climate.
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