The Sequim School District seeks to inspire students to achieve their
greatest potential. We believe that all students are capable of
success. In order for students to succeed, they must be able to access
academic instruction with minimized barriers. Barriers to student
instruction may include unmanaged emotions, and a lack of understanding
about how every day choices impact one’s learning and the learning of
others. As stated in the October 1, 2016 report by the Washington State
Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks Workgroup:
“Social
emotional learning is broadly understood as a process through which
people build awareness and skills in managing emotions, setting goals,
establishing relationships and making responsible decisions, leading to
success in school and in life. Research shows SEL on a large scale
supports better performing and more positive school communities.”
The Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks Workgroup propose guiding principles, which include:
- Professional learning;
- School/family/community partnerships; and
- Cultural
responsiveness, to ensure SEL in the classroom is culturally competent
and inclusive across all schools and communities.
The
Sequim School District intends to follow the above guiding principles
in developing programming to support student achievement. The District
will incorporate SEL at a systems level to build a foundation to support
academic and lifelong achievement for students. This district
implementation will support positive, equitable school environments in
which all students learn the skills needed to be prepared for career,
college, and life. Relationships between staff and students and students
and students will be central to all strategies employed with the
understanding that student choice and voice are necessary for successful
implementation of the District SEL Program.
The Sequim School District will implement SEL effectively and equitably in schools by:
- Evaluating and building school and classroom environments that are conducive to SEL;
- Incorporating principles of universal design for learning when adapting SEL curricula;
- Emphasizing equity in the selection and implementation of curriculum; and
- Taking
a holistic approach, understanding that each person will start at
different places and progress in different ways along an SEL continuum.
The
Sequim School District SEL Program is a multi-tiered system. The model
that will be used is much like the models followed for Positive
Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Strategies will be
implemented on a three tiered system.
- Tier 1 SEL strategies are designed to be implemented for all students,
- Tier
2 strategies are designed to be implemented with targeted groups of
students identified with minimal social emotional challenges that
interfere with academic participation and achievement, and
- Tier 3
strategies will be implemented with students identified as having
significant social emotional challenges needing significant
interventions to insure appropriate participation in school and academic
achievement.