The Social Emotional Health Committee, formed in the fall of the 2007/2008 school year by the Council, consists of the Faculty Administrator, a teacher representative, a parent representative, and our consulting psychologist. One of the primary roles of the Committee is to develop policy and programming in areas related to the social and emotional well-being of our students. The resulting programs involve the education of faculty and parents, as well as students, and are formulated appropriately for each age level.
The assumptions that inform this program are as follows:
- Teachers, parents and children all play an important role in creating a healthy social/emotional educational environment.
- Today’s complex societal issues require an educational setting that adequately prepares children and parents to be informed and to make responsible decisions.
- The implementation of a sound plan will enable teachers, parents and children to work together to create a nurturing school setting that is fully responsive to social/emotional development needs in the 21st century.
The school has instituted or is currently formulating programs to address Internet safety, healthy human sexuality and identity development, a school media policy, practices to address bullying and teasing, and substance abuse prevention. In time, there are plans to address media literacy, the challenges of blended families, and responsible decision making/conflict resolution.
Parents are asked to participate in this work by attending school-wide presentations and workshops, class meetings where these topics may be specifically addressed, and thoughtfully reading mailings pertaining to these topics. It is most important that parents take these issues seriously and work with the school to meet them responsibly.