A Transformative Experience
Jen Green & Michelle Carr
In the School’s strategic plan, Pegasus recommits to providing students with a transformative experience. A promise for academic rigor is implied, and teachers at Pegasus want even more for students. We also commit to providing a space for our students to learn and grow socially and emotionally. Two years ago, our faculty read Dr. Michelle Borba’s bestselling book, UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-AboutMe World. Our Pegasus family culture focuses on empathy, kindness, positive social skills, and strong communication and has since our founding. When parents and teachers partner together, we know this works best. How did we bring Borba to Pegasus to speak to our staff and parents? The partnership mentioned earlier was just the right path. Led this year by Sharlene Grover and Leila Cesario, the PTO PEGtalks program is starting its fourth year of bringing speakers to our community. Through a professional development opportunity, Michelle Carr, Reading Specialist, made a connection with Borba and her staff. With a bit of magic and teamwork among parents, teacher leaders, and administration, we knew this opportunity to host Borba at Pegasus would help all of us grow as educators and parents, and continue our focus on social emotional wellness and developing empathy in our children.
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THE PEGASUS SCHOOL
Borba’s visit affirmed and inspired our faculty. When touring campus, Borba took pictures that confirmed her work: a Kindergarten classroom bulletin board that had a garden with bees pollinating the flowers with empathy, and some of Dr. Hathaway’s favorite quotations in the rose garden that recognize what a visionary she was when it came to social emotional learning over 35 years ago. Borba shared the nine essential habits of empathetic children with both faculty and parents. While she saw examples of students and teachers showing empathy on campus and learned more from interviewing some of our middle schoolers, we identified even more ways that we could build these skills in our students.
Nine Essential Habits Emotional Literacy From greeting teachers at the door, to utilizing eye contact during public speaking presentations, we’ve got this one covered. Interpersonal skills are developed through class meetings in the lower school and through our middle school advisory program. We recommend that parents practice these skills by making time for family dinners a few times a week and setting devices aside.
