What's Happening in my Building 2023-2024 by Kristen R. Thorp

Mullen Elementary

2023-12-05 16:48:29 UTC

Moving forward we have decided to have monthly SEL themes for the entire school. We will support the themes by highlighting it weekly on the announcements, offering activities for staff and students and sharing learning opportunities for familes at home. We are very excited as we continue to build staff and student SEL needs in our building.

Journaling January

Friendship February

Mindfullness March

Acceptance April

Motivated May

Warm and Fuzzy Notes - SEL staff activity-Jennifer Roberts (Innovation Elementary)

thomascd2 — 2023-12-05 19:24:15 UTC

Staff had the opportunity to write a warm and fuzzy note of appreciation for someone else!

BMX Bike Assembly

thomascd2 — 2023-12-05 19:25:28 UTC

Hi everyone, Innovation ES SEL coaches are working on booking the BMX Bike Assembly for the Spring. $2,000 per show and $400 for additional shows. I think we could get a reduced travel expense if other coaches want to work together to books dates. my email is robertj@pwcs.edu if you want to email me! jen

Independence Nontraditional School Collaborative Norms -James Edwards

thomascd2 — 2023-12-05 19:26:47 UTC

We researched our community's values related to collaboration and have been implementing a new Advisory curriculum integrating these values into daily practices! Following PBIS/MTSS and Restorative Practices, we have reduced violent behaviors and chronic absenteeism by 100%, our students and teachers report feeling better at school, and students are showing multiple indicators of high learning achievement. Woohoo!

Glenkirk ES

andersea1 — 2023-12-05 20:38:24 UTC

We are working to increase connectedness between students as well as social awareness and relationship skills. Each week teachers facilitate a class meeting which we call "Round Table" meetings because our mascot is the Golden Knight. Teachers were given a different focus for four weeks to have students discuss which paired nicely with our SEL initiative and our schools first year starting "No Place for Hate". Students were asked to share what they could each do to carry out these pieces of the pledge: (1)I promise to do my best to treat everyone fairly. (2)I promise to do my best to be kind to everyone--even if they are not like me. (3)If I see someone being hurt or bullied, I will tell a teacher. (4)Everyone should be able to feel safe and happy in school. We think it is great that we able to merge two iniatives that share a common focus.

GVHS Gratitude Grams

2023-12-06 00:05:26 UTC

Gainesville High School promoting SEL and gratefulness around the school during Gratitude Month! We had faculty, staff and students write 'Gratitude Grams' during lunches to show their appreciation for others

MHES BMX Show

2023-12-06 18:06:33 UTC

Marumsco Hills invited GoGreen BMX to present the students with anti-bullying motivational message. The students loved it. Highly recommended. Here is a photo from the event.

Victory ES held a balloon parade along with our NPFH kids the day before Thanksgiving break! Individual balloons from each student and lots of fun! The whole school read the book Balloons over Broadway and designed their own balloon. Pics were on the PWCS Facebook page as well!

2023-12-11 17:37:54 UTC

High Paws-Vaughan ES

2023-12-13 12:57:28 UTC

There is a basket of Paw prints (we are the Wildcats) in our workroom. Staff can write shout outs to one another and they are read at our monthly staff breakfasts!

Vaughan ES-Wellness Buddies

2023-12-13 12:58:32 UTC

We have started a wellness buddy system. It is basically accountability partners. We did a survey to find out what areas of our health we want most support in and how we like to receive support and paired up from there. We meet monthly with different aims. This past month we met to share healthy snack and food ideas!

Jim "Basketball" Jones Assembly

2024-01-05 16:10:42 UTC

Hello! Marumsco Hills SEL is looking to book an assembly in April/ May with Jim Jones. Jones has variety of assembly such as Leader in Me, Growth Mindset, and much more. We would like to team up with another school to reduce expenses. If you are interested, please email me at goldstrn@pwcs.edu Thank you.

https://www.jimbasketballjones.com/elementaryschoolprograms/schoolassemblies

Challenge Discovery SEL Staff Activity King ES

layema — 2024-01-11 22:38:36 UTC

Amazing staff SEL program that is based out of Richmond, VA that we used last year and this year!

T. Clay Wood Atomic Habits Teachers as Readers

2024-01-12 16:27:36 UTC

TCW staff is making "tiny changes for remarkable results"! We had 22 teachers/staff enroll in our Teachers as Readers group. We are reading Atomic Habits by James Clear and working on our individual goals. Books for participants were purchased with SEL funds.

Book Exchange: Free activity

2024-01-12 16:55:49 UTC

On January 29th we are planning a staff book exchange. Staff will bring pleasure reading books they have read and no longer want. Other staff members can choose books. You do not have to bring books to take books. We are getting ready for CODE RED reading! (For our first book exchange, we asked that people NOT bring PD or children's books...we will do that in the future)

SEL cart with books/games/activities for Morning Meeting and Social Skills

2024-01-12 18:04:06 UTC

We compiled a cart of books, games, activities (conversation cubes, sentence starters, etc...) that can be checked out by staff for use with their class.

Monthly Food Truck!

2024-01-12 18:07:31 UTC

Once a month a food truck comes during staff lunch hours! Lots of positive feedback from teachers who are thrilled to get lunch "out"! One of our teachers coordinates this and sends out the emails letting us know which truck is coming.

After Hours Self Care Bingo

2024-01-16 16:37:26 UTC

Prior to winter break Montclair Elementary staff received an After Hours Self Care Bingo Card to complete. Upon return each participant received a journal (previously purchased with SEL funds) when they turned in their cards. We received lots of positive feedback and staff had fun comparing their bingo cards. Need to think of a spring break self care activity next!

SEL Week March 4-8

2024-01-17 17:04:26 UTC

Is anyone willing to share what their school is doing for the week?

"Snow" Much Kindness

2024-01-17 18:12:09 UTC

Glenkirk Elementary: In an effort to focus on self-awareness and relationship skills, our school had a focus on positive behaviors. Students wrote on a snowball things they can do to show kindness to others. We then took their snowballs and made a snow person. Kindergarten students also participated in thinking about kind things they can do, but instead of writing something on a snowball, they decorated snowflakes. We were really happy with how it turned out.

"Snow" Much Kidness (cont.)

2024-01-17 18:15:03 UTC

Here is a close up picture of some of the snowballs from our kindness project at Glenkirk ES.

National Chili Day - Staff Chili Cook Off

2024-01-25 15:56:16 UTC

Independence Nontraditional is fostering peer connections with a friendly staff Chili competition. On national chili day the staff is invited to participate two different ways, one to bring in a chili or a side item, and/or come and taste and vote on the best chili in school.

2024-01-26 02:38:55 UTC

Montclair Elementary had a dance party with Grammy nominated artist SaulPaul and his assistant Bianca while learning how special we all are, that we can make a difference, the importance of kindness, it is ok to be different, and that we are the change.

Borrowed from a school on here last year, Valentine's Exchange!

2024-01-26 18:11:39 UTC

The staff at Independence can sign up to participate in an Old School Valentine's Exchange. We are even having an afterschool craft day to handmake our Valentine Mailboxes.

Glenkirk ES: Warm Fuzzies

andersea1 — 2024-01-26 20:19:18 UTC

Borrowed this idea from this Padlet :-). We put an index card with a pom pom attached and invited the staff to write something that makes them happy or use this as an opportunity to recognize a fellow staff member. We completed the board last week and are loving the response so far.

Superbowl Friday Chili Cookoff! Vaughan ES

2024-02-01 18:46:59 UTC

Vaughan ES Kindness Month

2024-02-01 18:48:03 UTC

The SEL leads along with our No Place for Hate Club created Kindness month Activities to include spirit week, kindness challenges, school wide kindness gram program where every student will give and receive kindness grams to kids in other grade levels within their same pack, teacher kindness grams, and a self-love week!

Vaughan ES--Teacher Game Night

2024-02-01 18:49:01 UTC

Staff and families will be headed to Crossroads in Manassas this month for some game play and socializing. We are inviting staff and their families if they wish

Mullen ES Planner

2024-02-05 21:03:27 UTC

We are using Microsoft Planner to keep track of our SEL plans.

At MHES, Lauren and I brought a food truck to the school. It was a hit.

2024-02-09 15:43:34 UTC

Gainesville High School Kindness Week

2024-02-12 15:06:17 UTC

Be Kind with Coleman!

2024-02-12 15:07:24 UTC

Vaughan ES

2024-02-12 18:43:52 UTC

Staff will be shown appreciation with a free fun coffee beverage as part of our staff meeting this Thursday!

Vaughan ES-Bucket Fillers

2024-02-12 18:45:08 UTC

Staff all decorated bags for their doors. All month staff and students can write kind notes for staff in the building and be bucket fillers!

This Friday we celebrate National Chili Day w/ our staff (along with soup) — a moment to pay homage to the legendary dish that brings people together, and can tear them apart.

2024-02-13 14:46:01 UTC

LRMS-Therapy Dogs

2024-02-14 16:08:18 UTC

We have therapy Dogs come to visit every month.. Once for staff and once for students.

LRMS Decision Board

2024-02-14 17:06:01 UTC

We are trying to help remind students everyday the steps to make good and informed decisions

Ashland ES Staff Potluck

2024-02-20 01:10:56 UTC

Food always brings a staff together!

Ashland Friends for Fifteen

2024-02-20 01:12:48 UTC

All are invited every Thursday morning for "Friends for Fifteen"

We had Corey Jones come talk to our kiddos they have a great time listening to him.

2024-02-20 20:34:31 UTC

Kind Words for Kindness Week

2024-02-21 13:59:13 UTC

The SEL Team at Independence had a Kindness Table set up during lunches for students and staff to write words on heart sticky notes to share with the school. Also our therapy dogs, Daisy and Violet visited the table to give some love and kindness

Independence Staff Valentine's Exchange

2024-02-21 14:16:18 UTC

Staff at Independence had so much fun crafting Valentine's Day boxes and exchanging Valentine's treats and cards. We got so much positive feedback, the staff loved this and can't wait for next year.

Piney Branch Bulletin Boards

2024-02-21 17:43:45 UTC

We had fun with Winter/Kindness week Bulletin Boards! We had one that celebrated being unique, one for kindness, and another for complimenting staff members. They were interactive for students and engaged familiy memebers to give staff shoutouts on our Complimitten board!

Piney Branch Heritage Night

2024-02-21 17:54:46 UTC

We held our annual Heritage Night in January and had well over 400 people! It was amazing to see so many different cultures represented through dress, food tasting, and entertainment. Students danced, were a part of the cutural fashion show and we had a special steel pan musician. It was successful this year as we took many different angles at family/stchool/community engagement.

T. Clay Wood Preparing for SEL Week

2024-02-21 19:20:44 UTC

We created a Smore with a description and video link for each of the 5 days/5 competencies. Our ITC will show the video each day on the announcements and our counselors will talk a little about the importance of each competency. All videos were from the Rocket Kids YouTube channel. Feel free to use the Smore. We purposefully did not put our school name on the Smore so that others could use it too!

INS Chili Cook-Off

2024-02-23 18:05:01 UTC

We has an amazing Chili Cook-Off at Independence Nontraditional on National Chili Day. So many people came together to try the different chilis, eat together and socialize. There was a line at one point to get into the door. Probably the most successful event this year!

Loch Lomond February Sock Exchange

2024-02-27 17:14:44 UTC

2024-02-27 18:39:43 UTC

A wonderful event to celebrate Black History Month at Parkside Middle School. This was a great opportunity to socialize with coworkers we don't get to talk to everyday and bond with each other!

2024-02-27 18:42:42 UTC

Here at Parkside Middle School we believe in the power of relaxation so our wonderful SEL coaches planned a Yoga class for our staff during one of our teacher's workday!

2024-02-27 18:48:38 UTC

Another wonderful excuse to get together with coworkers and enjoy each other's company for a while!

KWES Kindness Courier

2024-02-27 19:59:51 UTC

Kyle Wilson Elementary: We started a schoolwide mailing system at our school! Staff and students can write kindness notes to each other that are reviewed by our No Place For Hate team and delivered to the students. The response from the student's has been so positive. It is a great activity to practice their writing as well!

DCES, Omegaman assembly!

2024-02-28 16:39:22 UTC

Vaughan ES

2024-03-04 12:44:46 UTC

Celebrating the Mondays in March with some physical activity, a Dorito Bracket, and Baked Potato bar!

Celebrate Pi Day at Ashland!

wattcl1 — 2024-03-04 18:32:29 UTC

Bring in a pie or any other dessert to share!

2024-03-04 20:29:08 UTC

Every student and staff member was given a heart to write a positive affirmation about themselves! Each grade level was a different color of the rainbow. Students love stopping by to look for their heart and read the affirmations each day!

Gravely Elementary

2024-03-05 21:16:42 UTC

Staff members are invited to write a shout out on a shamrock to a staff member saying why we are lucky to work with that person.

#SELDAY @ Independence

wassonke — 2024-03-11 22:27:51 UTC

We turned Independence into a SELDAY extravaganza! Students were greeted with positive stickers that lit up their faces, and heartwarming "we are family" signs welcomed them into the building with open arms. Our halls were adorned with signs and bulletin boards spreading the message of love and support to our incredible students. Staff members were in for a sweet surprise as they found #SELDAY postcards and lollipops waiting in their mailboxes, spreading joy and appreciation. And let's not forget the Staff Shout-out Padlet, where cheers and applause echoed through the digital realm as colleagues lifted each other up! What a day filled with love, positivity, and celebration!

Souper bowl at Victory!

2024-03-13 12:34:01 UTC

Multicultural Celebration Night at Victory!

2024-03-13 12:39:24 UTC

SEL in the Classroom @PVES

bartalpw1 — 2024-03-18 14:18:23 UTC

Each month on morning announcements a different CASEL competency is highlighted. A guest speaker reads the book of the month and then every week students participate in class meetings with guided questions surrounding that competency.

Staff Bean Bag Toss Tournament

wattcl1 — 2024-04-02 18:59:05 UTC

Blooming with Respect!

2024-04-08 14:53:08 UTC

Each K-2 student wrote one way they can show respect. We stress respect in all we do...respect ourselves by doing our best in all we do, and respect our peers and adults!

LRMS Positive Reminders

2024-04-09 17:33:57 UTC

Even though the weather is changing we want all students and staff to remember their responsibilities and how important it is to stay focused on positive habits.

Montclair Elementary was in a pickle on the work day.

2024-04-10 12:46:06 UTC

We set up pickleball nets and equipment so staff could take a mental and physical health break to play a game or two.

April

2024-04-15 13:30:57 UTC

This month we have the opportunity to focus on Social Awareness in hopes to enhance Relationship skills. We have taken over an additional bulletin board for Autism Awareness month - promote autism acceptance, celebrate neurodiversity and individual differences, and continue to advance inclusivity and connectedness throughout the community. In addition, we felt it was very important to recognize and honor our military children for the commitment, sacrifices, and challenges military children and their families face. We want our military children to know we see them and support them. Our school just completed a full week of Autism Awareness Spirit Days and are kicking off Month of the Military Child Spirit week today.

Corey Jones: Motivational Speaker

2024-04-30 01:07:11 UTC

We loved our visit from Corey Jones and definitely recommend him! For K-2 he talked about anti-bullying and 3-5 test motivation and making good choices. Students said it was the best assembly they ever had!

Haymarket Elementary School

2024-05-07 14:36:55 UTC

Our SCA students created and developed the Cubs for Pups initiative and were invited to attend a community adoption event! Students worked tirelessly with Mrs. Schenck on creating and designing custom dog treats, toys, pens and more to sell at the adoption event. All proceeds were donated to help save animal lives. The students were able to witness and be part of many pets finding their fur-ever home :)

Mullen Elementary-Movement May

2024-05-10 15:29:47 UTC

For Movement May we have introduced the 100 Mile May Challenge to staff. Staff is encouraged to track their daily steps on an excel document. Our goal is for each person to walk 100 miles during the month of May. So far we have 20 teachers participating.

Mullen Elementary April-BMX

2024-05-10 16:08:49 UTC

For the month of April we had Dial Action Sports put on a BMX assembly for students. They students enjoyed learning about anti-bullying while watching the BMX show. We hope to bring them back in the future.

Breathe For Change (Woodbridge Senior High School)

2024-05-10 16:18:26 UTC

Two SEL teachers at Woodbridge Senior High School are being trained in Wellness, SEL and Yoga for next school year. We highly recommend the training!