Social and Emotional Learning at Girton

Dear Parents and Carers,

As the Social and Emotional Learning Co-ordinator, I wanted to share with you a new initiative aimed at fostering essential life skills beyond the traditional curriculum. This semester, students in Year levels 7-12 have been engaging in weekly Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons every Tuesday.

What is SEL, you may ask? Social and Emotional Learning is a vital component of education that focuses on developing key skills necessary for success in both personal and professional realms. It encompasses various aspects such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

These weekly sessions, each lasting 30 minutes, are designed to provide students with dedicated time to explore and enhance their emotional intelligence. Students will delve into resilience, mindfulness, adaptability, self and social awareness through guided activities, discussions, and reflective exercises.

Here's a brief overview of the skills we have focussed on this term:

1. Resilience: In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, resilience is crucial. Our lessons will equip students with strategies to bounce back from challenges, setbacks, and adversity, enabling them to thrive in adversity.

2. Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness cultivates present-moment awareness and helps students develop a greater sense of calm, focus, and clarity amidst the chaos of everyday life.

3. Adaptability: The ability to adapt to new situations, navigate change, and embrace uncertainty is essential for success. Through our lessons, students will learn to embrace flexibility and open-mindedness in approaching life's challenges.

4. Self-awareness: Understanding one's emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and values is the cornerstone of personal growth. We'll guide students in developing a deeper understanding of themselves, fostering a greater sense of confidence and authenticity.

5. Social awareness or empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. By enhancing their social awareness and empathy, students will learn to appreciate diverse perspectives, build meaningful relationships, and contribute positively to their communities.

Next semester, we will be exploring more of the topics above as well as emotional literacy. Our Year Twelve students will look at their developed SEL skills and explore how to use them after graduation. They’ll discuss concepts like empathy, worldviews, supporting others and planning for their future. 

At Girton, we believe that investing in your child's social and emotional well-being is paramount to their overall success and happiness. These SEL lessons complement our academic curriculum by providing students with the tools and insights they need to navigate the complexities of life beyond the classroom.

I encourage you to continue supporting your child's learning journey by engaging in conversations about the topics covered in these sessions and reinforcing the skills learned at home. Together, we can empower our students to become resilient, compassionate, and socially conscious individuals.

If you have any questions or concerns about our SEL program, please don't hesitate to reach out to me or your child’s House Tutor. Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education.

Ms Joanne Christie

Social and Emotional Learning Co-ordinator