We have learned that effective, direct instruction and classroom/school-wide practices are the tools which tend to have the biggest impact on student learning. Second Step has therefore been adopted as our instructional component in grades K-4. This social-competency program addresses the following areas:

• Skills for Learning
• Empathy
• Emotion Management
• Problem Solving

More information about the Second Step Elementary curriculum can be found at www.secondstep.org/elementary-school-curriculum

School Wide Practices and Routines

In addition to the direct instruction provided through the Second Step curriculum, our staff has agreed to consistently utilize schoolwide and classroom practices in an effort to enhance students’ SEL skills. These practices include the following:

• Daily Personal Greeting: Meet students at the door each day with a warm greeting which lets them know that you are happy to see them and fosters a sense of belonging. 
• Classroom Morning Meeting: Use a morning meeting to build connections between students and a sense of community. Include four components: Greeting, Sharing, Group Activity, and Morning Message. 
• The Buddy Bench: Provides a space on the playground where students can go if they’re looking for someone to play with. 
• Playworks: Our new recess structure helps students stay active and promotes social and emotional learning through play, teamwork and compromise (game of the week for recess).

More information about the Second Step Elementary curriculum can be found at www.playworks.org

Climate and Culture

• Wellington Core Values: Effort, Respect & Responsibility
• Bucket grams (bucket filling vs. bucket dipping)
• Whole school assemblies
• Little Buddies
• Jump Start 1-3
• SMART
• New student checklist & school passport
• Welly, our school mascot
• After school enrichment programs/before school programs (BOKS)
• 4-Square apologies/Apologies of action/reflections
• Friday dance parties for 3rd and 4th graders in the gym before school
• Wellington Staff Raffle
• Sieberg Silent Reading Day
• Spirit days
• Fine dining days
• Amy Spangler make a difference day
• Social & Emotional related literature is identified in both school and classroom libraries
• Growth mindset concept concepts taught at each grade level as well as schoolwide
• Family engagement:
• Multicultural night
• Community outreach events
• Colonial Day for 3rd graders
• Wellington Carnival
• Movie night
• Skate night
• Fun Run
• Science Fair
• Mystery Readers
• Bingo night
• Picnic
• Carnival
• First Grade 101