The Department of Health & Wellness
Spotlight on Social Emotional Learning
Elementary SEL Programming
Changes to the 2019-2020 elementary school day have resulted in the creation of a daily morning meeting/SEL block.
The following evidenced based SEL curricula have been selected for implementation for SY19/20:
Second Step: Social Emotional Learning
Second Step: Bullying Prevention
The Zones of Regulation
These curricula will be supplemented by a district-wide Character Education Theme of the Month and PBIS expectation lessons.
Each classroom will also create a calming corning/reset station in line with the Zones of Regulation curriculum.
A comprehensive professional development plan has been created and all elementary educators and support staff will receive training on all components of the SEL curricula (August 26, September 17 and November 5 2019).
Please see the Framingham Public Schools Tier 1 SEL Curricula Matrix for an overview of the selected program components and professional develop offerings.
Secondary SEL Programming
SEL programming at the secondary level will build on the recent SEL work at Fuller Middle School using a Positive Youth Development and Restorative Practice lens. Our Engaging Schools consultants will facilitate professional learning, and provide coaching, consultation, and resources for teachers, student support staff, school administrators and district leaders to support implementation at all three middle schools and the high school beginning in Fall 2019.
Focus on Attendance
Across FPS, a large number of our students are missing a significant amount of school. During the 2017-18 school year, 32% of our students missed 10 or more days and 13% of our students were chronically absent - missing 10% or more of school days due to an absence of any reason - excused, unexcused, or suspension.
Recalibration of the District Code of Conduct
As part of the district’s SEL implementation and to reduce exclusionary and disproportionate discipline practices, we will focus on an important aspect of supporting our students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic growth through the recalibration of our existing Code of Conduct.
Increasing Student Access to Behavioral and Mental Health Supports
The number of FPS students suffering from anxiety, depression and/or other mental health issues has increased steadily over the last several years. This is evidenced by data from the 2018 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey, which show that 20% of middle school students and 37% of high school students report life is “very” stressful (past 30 days); 19% of middle school students and 26% of high school students report depressive symptoms (past 12 months). Children with mental health problems are three times more likely to miss school and 83% more likely to score below the mean in reading and math.
The increasing behavioral and mental health needs combined with the lack of community-based service providers limits the ability of our students to access treatment. As a result, the district is exploring ways to increase student access to behavioral and mental health services. In support of these efforts, the Department of Health & Wellness has written and is the recent recipient of the two competitive grants to expand Bridge Re-Entry Programs at FHS and the middle schools.
Mind Body
Meditation, mindfulness training, yoga, and other mind-body practices are evidenced-based Mind Body Medicine techniques that can positively impact the health and well being of children and adults. The Adolescent Health Nurse Team, Cheryl Aglio-Gireli, DNP, MSN, RN, FACCE and Mynette Shifman, MSN, RN, RNP-BC are leaders in bringing relaxation response-based coping skills, mindfulness, and life management tools into the school environment to help educators and students better manage daily stress, and positively impact students academic performance and health. Their collaboration with Nourishing Teachers/ Strengthening Classrooms, a program of Open Spirit, has resulted in opportunities to expand mind body programming throughout the district.
Social Emotional Mental Health Team (SEMH)
Over the course of the year, the SEMH Team has been working to create a Framingham District Video Library. The videos created for this project are part of a inter-district video library that can be accessed by teachers and administrators to observe best practices occurring in classrooms across the district that demonstrate strategies to create safe high-functioning learning environments.
McKinney-Vento Student Stability Program
Department of Health & Wellness
For additional information:
Website: https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/Domain/78
Phone: 508 626 9197