Mile Tree Elementary - Principal's Message

Dear Parents / Guardians,

By now I am sure that you have heard your child talk about starting their school day with a morning meeting. Morning meeting gives children a consistent time and place every day to explore and practice social skills and to merge social, emotional, and intellectual learning. Morning meeting also nurtures empathy by offering children an opportunity to practice and take care of each other (NFC, 2007). We find that this daily routine builds community and creates a positive learning climate.

In recent weeks there has been much discussion about bullying in schools. We believe that by using the Responsive Classroom approach we can teach the children to treat each other with respect and care, take responsibility for their own actions, and learn self-control. Also, we have found that this approach promotes caring and respectful behaviors among children.

Our Second Step curriculum is a program that helps us think about, develop and practice social skills. These lessons cover empathy, impulse control, problemsolving, and anger management.

The Mile Tree School students met the following characters SUFY (stand up for yourself), SUFO (stand up for others), and TAGU (tell a grown-up) during the fall’s Puppet People’s Bully Buster performance.

What does a puppet show, Second Step curriculum, and a Responsive Classroom approach all have in common? The answer is very clear…by providing these prevention and intervention activities we promote and reinforce the message that all students can learn in a safe and fear-free environment.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Brosnan