HSI NEWSLETTER FALL 2020
Woodside Elementary School District has a strong
The SEL committee with the guidance of
commitment to address SEL as a school wide
administration is focusing on teacher support and
intervention and has continued to help teachers
mental health. The SEL Committee will have
train and develop their SEL curriculum in the
themes each quarter. First quarter began the year
classroom through the administration and SEL
with the theme of community building with a lens
committee. Our school wide SEL curriculum has
of diversity, equity and inclusion – providing a
included: introducing therapeutic tools, helping
lesson and ideas to establish a community within
students learn ways to build positive social skills,
their virtual classrooms. The SEL committee sent
and to learn ways to deal with problems and
out a survey to hear directly from teachers their
conflicts constructively.
needs and the needs of their students. The goal of this quarter is to ensure the voices of our staff are heard and we can provide for them adequately. Second quarter’s theme will be gratitude. The SEL committee will continue to build community and self-care through checking in on staff and some
The year 2020 has been a very trying time for
activities like yoga on the field after school or a
students, families, and our staff. We recognize
staff picnic in the garden.
mental health should be a priority and needs to be addressed. Our district is understanding that
Mena Lam, the School
mental health needs are more than they have ever
Counselor sends weekly
been. The WESD Re-Opening Task Force
mindfulness videos to staff.
addressed the mental health needs by establishing
These videos have a variety of
breaking down to 3 different groups and a tier
different techniques staff can
system helping identify students’ needs are and
use for themselves. Ms. Lam
what the support systems may look like.
also creates a separate student video so teachers
In September, Sequoia Healthcare District
are able to use the mindfulness videos. These
sponsored a town hall focusing on mental health,
videos are also seen on the Counselor’s Corner bi-
our rep Nurse Abbe Keane went to share what
weekly on our Wildcats Weekly newsletter to
we're doing for mental health and to learn how
families. For parents and teachers, Ms. Lam has
other districts are handling their mental health
virtual office hours weekly to sign up for
needs.
consultation.
Click HERE to view this week's Wildcat Weekly . Spanish version HERE.
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