Bozeman Public Schools
Community Newsletter - March 2021
This month, our newsletter focuses on social emotional learning (SEL). We consider healthy social and emotional development in children to be fundamental to student growth in all areas. The goal of SEL in the Bozeman Public Schools is to promote and improve students’ attitudes and beliefs about themselves, their relationships with others, and their education.
Thank you for supporting the Bozeman Public Schools.
Casey Bertram and Marilyn King
Interim Co-Superintendents
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Social Emotional Learning
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There are a lot of different ways to define the different categories of social and emotional skills needed to be successful. The competencies outlined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) are the most widely adopted and generally considered to be the gold standard. BSD7 references the CASEL 5 (Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making, Relationship Skills, and Social Awareness) when we make decisions about curriculum, assessments, and standards. See if you can connect the activities in our School Highlights section of this newsletter to the correct CASEL competency (it is harder than you might think!)
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Bozeman High School administrators and counselors review DESSA data.
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The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) is a valid, reliable universal screening tool designed to measure student social emotional strengths, and needs. This screener was completed district-wide for the first time this winter. Results from this screener are in and school site teams are now able to use the data to make important decisions about Social Emotional Learning.
This data will help our site teams answer questions like...
- How do BSD7 students' social emotional skills compare with national norms?
- How do individual schools or grade levels compare with each other on these measures?
- How well is our Social Emotional Learning programming doing for these specific groups?
- In what skill areas do individual students (who are identified as having needs) need additional instruction?
- How well are our interventions working for individual students?
Similar to the way we use data to guide our decisions about how we teach academic subjects, this data on our students' social emotional skills will help us along the path of continual improvement!
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If our schools were representative of schools nationwide, we would expect that 16% would fall in the "need" and "strength" range respectively and 68% would fall in the "typical" range. Data from our winter administration of the DESSA show that 12% of BSD7 students fall in the "need" range, 56% fall in the "typical" range, and 31% fall in the "strength" range. This means that BSD7 students compare favorably to national norms. There are always ways we can improve, but it is a relief to know that even during this stressful year, our students are demonstrating the social emotional skills needed to be successful in school, in work, and in relationships.
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Meet Jill Lea
The School Counselor (and School Psychologist) who has been with BSD7 the longest!
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1) What do you like best about your job?
I love working with the students. I love interacting with them and getting to know them at lunch and recess. The relationships that I am able to develop with the kids are so rewarding. I get so excited when I see them making progress and utilizing the skills that we have worked on.
2) From your perspective, what are the things that contribute most to student wellbeing?
The things that I think contribute most are that students feel safe, supported, and cared about. At Longfellow, I hope that our students know that all of the adults care and support them.
3) From your perspective, what is social emotional learning and why is important?
To me, social and emotional learning is helping to teach our kids the skills that they need to be successful students, but also successful adults. To me, social and emotional learning is the basis for all other learning. If our kids don't have those skills, it is really difficult for them to learn the necessary academic skills.
4) What has changed about the way schools think about and teach social emotional learning since you started in 1999?
With the additional FTE for counselors, particularly at the elementary level, we are able to teach social emotional learning in a more systematic way. The breadth and depth has increased at the tier 1 level and we are also able to reach more students who need individual and group support.
5) Has the pandemic changed anything about your approach to social emotional learning? If so, what has changed?
I think that I have been more aware of students who tend to internalize. The pandemic has had a huge impact on a lot of kids with regard to anxiety and depression. So, I have been more aware of what those kids need and reaching out.
6) What would you like to see change in SEL over the next 10 years?
I would like to see us, as school counselors, continue a very systematic approach with social emotional learning across the district. I want to see all BSD 7 students receiving the same tier 1 content. That way if they move to another school or when they move to the next level, they will have all been exposed to the same skills.
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Just a few of the curriculum, tools, and approaches that BSD7 uses for Social Emotional Learning...
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BSD7 has been partnering with Thrive for over 25 years to build bridges between families and schools so that children are set up for success. This type of support for families has never been as important as it is this year. The 2020-2021 school year has been stressful. Many parents have been struggling with financial, health, or mental health challenges on top of the stress related to online learning, child care, and supporting their child's emotional or behavioral needs during this difficult time. If you don't yet know about Thrive's Parent Liaisons, this might be the year to learn more!
Parent Liaisons are professionals who work in the schools to facilitate parenting classes, connect parents to community resources, and support parent-teacher collaboration. This year, there is a Parent Liaison in every elementary and middle school across the district.
In addition to support through Parent Liaisons, Thrive provides parenting classes including Circle of Security and Love and Logic. These classes are designed to help parents support the emotional growth of their child. The ideas taught in these classes expand upon the Social Emotional Learning that is happening in the schools by giving parents the tools they need to reinforce students' self-esteem, motivation, and coping skills.
Finally, Thrive also supports BSD7 through the Child Advancement Project (CAP) by matching adult volunteers from the community with students as mentors to provide support and encouragement. These mentors work one-to-one with students in grades PK-12 to build upon their individual strengths, and affirm the student's ability to shape their own futures.
Visit allthrive.org to sign up for parenting classes, and to learn more about Parent Liaisons, CAP, and other programs Thrive has to offer.
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We know that in order to teach Social Emotional Learning teachers and school staff have to model prosocial skills like empathy, conflict resolution, and self-care. This is why we have included activities for social emotional well-being into our staff wellness program.
This February 16th through March 8th, some of our staff have been participating in the 21 days of gratitude challenge. People who regularly express gratitude for the positive things in their life are shown to be happier overall, leading to lower rates of stress and depression. Showing gratitude can make you more optimistic and positive towards hurdles in everyday life. It can also make you more compassionate towards others. We could all use a little more of that!
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At Hawthorne, students are learning about Fixed vs. Growth Mindsets. In the 4th grade they are learning how to convert Fixed Mindset statements and thoughts (e.g. "I can't do it") into Growth Mindset statements and thoughts (e.g. "This will take practice to get it right"). In the 5th grade, they challenged their Growth Mindsets with an activity that involved asking them to replicate a tricky paper structure. This activity tested the students' ability to persevere in order to succeed. At every grade, our Hawthorne Hedgehogs are focused on loving the challenges, being intrigued by mistakes, enjoying effort, and keeping on learning!
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Morning Star has started up a news show called "What's Up Morning Star!" that features student ambassadors reporting on playground expectations, sharing positive things happening around the school, and discussing the Character Word of the month (e.g. Grit, Gratefulness, Responsibility, or Kindness). They knock it out of the park... Back to you, Jim!
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Morning Star Student Reporting on Grit for "What's Up Morning Star!"
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Chief Joseph Middle School isn't letting social distancing efforts get in the way of supporting one another and building a positive, inclusive school climate. On February 22nd, students, teachers, and staff all participated in a Virtual Respect Rally focused on nondiscrimination and inclusion.
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At Longfellow and Bozeman Online School they have been using the Random Acts of Kindness curriculum with elementary and middle school students, online and in-person. This curriculum has lessons around basic kindness concepts: Respect, Caring, Inclusiveness, Integrity, Responsibility, and Courage. Parents can access the content and any other awesome ideas through the Random Acts of Kindness website. See pictures below of Longfellow students practicing kindness!
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Gallatin High School has launched a Virtual Relaxation Space. This online platform has a variety of thoughtful resources for mindfulness, self-care, and mental health. This virtual space was a collaborative effort by GHS school counselors, school psychologist, SAFE-TI counselor, and librarians and is intended to be a resource for both students and staff. Drop in to sign up for counseling sessions, access helpful resources, or do some calming activities.
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Looking for more information and resources on Social Emotional Learning and mental health? Check out Parent University!
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5th Grade Band and Orchestra started last week!
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Students Celebrate 100 Days of Learning!
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