As we head into the last trimester of the year, I’m excited to begin my third round of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) groups! SEL groups are a key support I offer for students in K-5th grade. Groups focus on a variety of SEL skills, including emotional regulation, coping skills, friendship, and conflict resolution skills. Groups are formed with 4-6 same-grade peers and meet weekly for 30 minutes during the school day. Please fill out this online form if you would like your child to participate in a group. The sign-up deadline is Friday, March 17.
Note that the length of groups this spring will be shortened – 5 weeks as opposed to the usual 10 – due to my upcoming maternity leave. I’ll be starting my leave in mid-May and returning in January 2024. Look for further information regarding my extended leave in upcoming communications from the school and in my forthcoming newsletters this year.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything I can do to support your student or family! You can always reach me at cshaw@st-johnschool.org.
March Resources
- The Center for Child & Family Well-Being at UW curated a great mindfulness and compassion resource guide for families of younger children. There are book recommendations, websites, activities, meditations and so much more. I have many of the recommended books, so feel free to email me to arrange to borrow a book from my collection.
- Great Conversations is an excellent local organization that offers a variety of classes and presentations for children ages 9-12 and their parents on subjects such as feelings, friendships, puberty, sexuality, boundaries, and other topics relevant to children during these pivotal years. I highly recommend checking out their offerings.
- I’ve loved hearing about the new “Try Me Friday” initiative at school this year – what a positive way to promote conversations about nutrition and healthy eating habits! These topics are important to revisit throughout your child’s development. With that in mind, I want to share this article from the Cleveland Clinic with 11 tips to teach kids healthy eating habits. If you ever have concerns about your child’s eating habits, particularly as they enter puberty and the middle school years, reach out to your pediatrician.
