The Principal Chronicles
~INDIANA AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ~ January 2022
East Pike - Horace Mann - Ben Franklin - Eisenhower
Dear Families and Community Members,
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2022!
Erin Eisenman, Eisenhower Principal
Krista SevajIan , Horace Mann Principal
Don Springer, East Pike Principal
Kelly Urbani, Ben Franklin Principal
What is Social Emotional Learning?
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.
SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.
What is PATHS?
Our PreK-5 Social Emotional Learning program is called Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies or PATHS.
PATHS is a program of lessons and strategies that help children manage their emotions, communicate effectively, and problem-solve independently.
It takes a holistic approach to include all children, families, faculty, and staff.
PATHS is a research-based program grounded in the science of children’s brain development. It uses progressive schemes of work, engaging resources, and diverse activities to establish a positive classroom environment.
To learn more about PATHS, visit https://pathsprogram.com/
To learn more about SEL, visit https://pathsprogram.com/ or the Collaboraitve for Academics, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) site at https://casel.org/
PATHS Helps Children With...
- Self-esteem, self-confidence and self-control
- Frustration & anger management
- Attention and concentration
- Thinking before they act out in anger
- Emotional understanding
- Expressing their feelings in a positive way
- Understanding that all feelings are okay, but some behaviors are not OK
- Preparing for change (e.g. moving to the Junior High)
PATHS WORKS AROUND 3 KEY FEATURES
Feelings
Our children are taught how to recognize different feelings. They explicitly talk about what it feels like to be happy, frustrated, anxious, etc. Children are also taught what it might look like for other people. Feelings are described as comfortable or uncomfortable. They also learn that all feelings are OK. It’s OK to feel upset or angry, but we need to know how to deal with these feelings. Children build up a set of feeling cards so they can show and talk about how they are feeling. These may be of some use at home too, so there are a set of feeling cards here that can be printed off (comfortable and uncomfortable).
Compliments
Building children’s self esteem is key to PATHS! A PATHS Kid for the Day is chosen everyday in each class. The child will do special tasks throughout the day, but most importantly he/she will be given compliments from the teacher and peers that are recorded and sent home at the end of the day. A compliment is then also encouraged from family members at home. The compliments from home are shared with the class the next day. This routine is a wonderful way to start each day and build a positive classroom community!
Problem-Solving
PATHS is about feelings - understanding our own and others. That is OK to feel sad or angry, but it’s not OK to hit or use unkind words because of it. PATHS offers strategies to deal with problems that arise. In PreK and Kindergarten, this is through Twiggle (a little turtle), and Grades 2 through 5 use traffic lights.
5 DISTINCT CATEGORIES OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Self Awareness is the ability to understand and manage your own feelings and to know your strengths and weaknesses.
Self Management is the ability to manage your behavior and impulses, to have integrity, and to act according to your values.
Social Awareness is the ability to understand and have empathy for others.
Relationship Management is knowing how to work with others and get along effectively.
Responsible Decision Making is the ability to make good decisions and know how to problem solve effectively both alone and in groups.
Each school is using the PATHS Curriculum - Talk with your child about the following:
What is the PATHS Kid of the Day?
How do you feel about being the PATHS Kid of the Day?
What is the best compliment you have received?
How do you feel when you give someone a compliment?
Can you name some comfortable feelings?
Can you name some uncomfortable feelings?
What does it mean to 'Do Turtle' or how do you calm down if you are feeling uncomfortable?
A Sad Good-Bye and a Warm Welcome...
The Elementary Team would like to thank Horace Mann Principal, Mrs. Savajian, for her hard work, dedication, care, and commitment to our staff, our students, and their families. She has announced an early retirement beginning February 2, 2022, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors! She will be truly be missed!
We welcome Kevin Edmondson to our Elementary Team! Mr. Edmondson is currently serving as the Junior High Assistant Principal. He has many years of elementary experience both as a classroom teacher and as an administrator. We are excited for his positive energy and enthusiasm as he joins the Horace Mann Elementary School family.
We know great things will continue to happen as Mr. Edmondson transitions to their team!
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 20th
BF/IKE Virtual PTA Meeting, 6:00pm (Link will be shared)
January 24th
Special Board Meeting, 7:00pm
February 7th
Academic & Extra-Curricular Board Meeting, 5:30pm
February 11th
Valentine's Day Celebrations
(Look for information from your school's PTA!)
February 14th
Policy & Personnel Committee Meeting, 5:30pm
Regular School Board Meeting, 7:00pm
February 18th
Act 80 Day - No School for Students
February 21st
Parent & Teacher Conferences, 10am - 6pm
Buildings, Grounds & Transportation Committee Meeting, 5:30pm
*To attend Committee or Board Meetings virtually or in-person,
please visit www.iasd.cc for more information!
EAST PIKE ELEMENTARY
Website: www.iasd.cc
Location: 501 East Pike Road, Indiana, PA, USA
Phone: 724.463.8567
Facebook: Facebook.com/indianaareaschooldistrict
Twitter: @IndianaAreaSD
HORACE MANN ELEMENTARY
Website: www.iasd.cc
Location: 205 South 5th Street, Indiana, PA, USA
Phone: 724.4638560
Facebook: Facebook.com/indianaareaschooldistrict
Twitter: @IndianaAreaSD
EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY
Website: www.iasd.cc
Location: 1460 School Street, Indiana, PA, USA
Phone: 724.463.8566
Facebook: Facebook.com/indianaareaschooldistrict
Twitter: @IndianaAreaSD
BEN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY
Website: www.iasd.cc
Location: 95 Ben Franklin Road South, Indiana, PA, USA
Phone: 724.465.5637
Facebook: Facebook.com/indianaareaschooldistrict
Twitter: @IndianaAreaSD