Join KDE's Celebration of #SEL Day on March 26
On March 26, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will join communities across the globe to celebrate the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) on the second annual International SEL Day. This year's theme is “Building Bonds, Reimagining Community.”
KDE is inviting all public schools in the Commonwealth to submit photos of SEL in action to showcase in a video on March 26.
According to Casel.org, research shows that social-emotional learning leads to improved academic outcomes and improved student behaviors, has long-term impacts (up to 18 years later on academics, conduct problems, emotional distress and drug use) and has an 11:1 return on investment, meaning for every dollar invested, there is an $11 return. Social-emotional learning also can help reduce poverty and improve economic mobility, along with improving lifetime outcomes.
You’ve worked hard to get to this point and we can’t wait to celebrate you! Submit pictures or videos using this link.
School Counselor Mixtape
How can we celebrate the individuality of our students as they return to school? I encourage you to use "This is Me" (the Reimagined Remix) from "The Greatest Showman" in your next school counseling curriculum lesson. This track helps students answer the following question: What is one thing in your life that truly allows you to express yourself?
This song connects to your student standards (ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success):
- Mindset 1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and physical well-being
- Mindset 2. Self-confidence in ability to succeed
- Mindset 3. Sense of belonging in the school environment
- Behavior-Learning Strategy 2. Demonstrate creativity
- Behavior-Learning Strategy 4. Apply self-motivation and self-direction to learning
- Behavior-Social Skills 2. Create positive and supportive relationships with other students
- Behavior-Social Skills 3. Create relationships with adults that support success
- Behavior-Social Skills 4. Demonstrate empathy.
Here are the lyrics to "This is Me" (the Reimagined Remix).
Responding to Anti-Asian Violence and Georgia Shootings
Please check out this article about the recent violence that has ensued in the Asian-American community from Learning for Justice.
They say, "In the face of what we know, there is a strong temptation to jump directly into educating, into work. But we want to pause and acknowledge the pain. To take care before we take inventory of our resources. We want to ask all of you to do the same."
We stand with our Asian American colleagues, students and families throughout Kentucky and the United States.
The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Principals Advisory Council (PrAC) heard about the school counselor’s role in providing social-emotional support for students during its meeting on March 16.
Damien Sweeney, program coordinator for comprehensive school counseling in KDE’s Office of Teaching and Learning, presented “The Kentucky Framework of Best Practices for School Counselors,” which was released in July 2020 to provide updated guidance for Kentucky school counselors.
The framework also is meant to help school counselors build their capacity for helping students by improving their knowledge of their professional responsibilities; growing their leadership and advocacy skills; and implementing a comprehensive school counseling program, with the framework as their guide.
“Part of this work is to make sure we’re aligned and we’re going in the same direction” to support students, Sweeney said.
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