1 week until PodCamp Western Mass 10 - Apr 7

I am part of the organizing committee for the social media learning and sharing event. If you would like additional details, feel free to reach out and ask. This is where I go to learn what is or isn't working in the social media world.

Tickets are $45 today, $50 tomorrow, or $15 for students. Holyoke is only a 90 minute drive!

April 7th at HCC

PodCamp Western Mass #10 April 7, 2018 Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College April 2018 7 PodCamp WesternMass #10 is a week away... And in case you've been wondering whether PodCamp is for you, here are 5 Reasons why you should join us: If you're an absolute beginner (or nearly so), we have sessions for you. It's an unconference for everyone, at every stage of the game.  If you have experience or tips to share, your bringing that to the community is what fuels PodCamp. Help facilitate a session or just schmooze in the hallways. It's all valuable. Meet others who are on the path with you - running a business, starting a new one, doing community work, or just learning how to get the word out better. We're all in this together! Hang out and make friends. Seriously! This is an event that has the super-power of attracting the nicest people. We don't know quite why....we just know it's true. Did we mention the food? Your ticket price includes coffee in the morning, a delicious healthy lunch and happy hour snacks at our 4:30 gathering at Slainte. So, no need to pack a lunch, just grab your laptop, a smart phone, tablet or a pad of paper.   Your ticket price includes: Coffee and tea when you arrive 5 Classroom sessions of your choosing A fabulous, healthy lunch, including gluten-free & dairy-free options Networking happy hour with munchies If you already bought your ticket, we can't wait to see you! And because sharing is caring, please forward this to a friend or colleague who should be there with you! Get your tickets here. If you have any questions, just hit reply. We'd love to hear from you! See you soon, The PodCamp Organizing Team Copyright © 2018 PodCamp Western Mass, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: PodCamp Western Mass 20 Northampton Street Easthampton, MA 01027 Add us to your address book

Senator Spilka Hosts Social-Emotional Learning Forum - Tuesday Jan 9 @ 6pm, Ashland

On Tuesday, January 9, Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) will host a forum with the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy about social-emotional learning (SEL). The conversation will highlight the work of exSEL: Excellence through Social-Emotional Learning, a network bringing together school districts across Massachusetts to design and implement policies and practices that promote SEL.

The forum is part of Senator Spilka's MetroWest Kids Initiative, designed to identify strategies to help children in MetroWest learn, grow and succeed, with a focus on social-emotional learning. SEL is a research-backed framework to bring skills like stress management, positive relationship-building, responsible decision-making and empathy into classrooms.

WHO: 

• Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland)
• Jennifer Poulos, Associate Director, Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy
• Debra Bromfield, Director of Student Services, Canton Public Schools
• Rachelle Engler Bennett, Associate Commissioner, Student and Family Support, MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
• Richard Fournier, Director of District Partnerships, Transforming Education

WHAT: 
Discussion of social-emotional learning and opportunities for implementation in MetroWest schools


WHEN: 
January 9, 2018 - 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.


WHERE: 
Warren Conference Center and Inn
Hayden Lodge
529 Chestnut Street, Ashland


NOTE: This event is free and open to the public; attendees must RSVP via Eventbrite.

Senator Spilka Hosts Social-Emotional Learning Forum - Tuesday Jan 9 @ 6pm, Ashland

The exSEL Network is led by the exSEL Coalition, whose members include the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives and Massachusetts School Administrators Association. The exSEL Coalition's non-profit partners, the Rennie Center and Teachers 21, provide expertise, support and training for the network.

You're Invited: Senator Spilka's Social-Emotional Learning Forum - Jan 9, 2018

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YOU'RE INVITED: Senator Spilka's MetroWest Kids exSEL Forum     Tuesday, January 9, 2018 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hayden Lodge  Warren Conference Center 529 Chestnut Street, Ashland CLICK HERE TO RSVP!  Please join Senator Karen Spilka on January 9, 2018 for a conversation with the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy about exSEL: Excellence through Social-Emotional Learning, a network bringing together school districts across Massachusetts to design and implement policies and practices that promote social-emotional learning (SEL). The project is led by the exSEL Coalition, whose members include the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives and Massachusetts School Administrators Association. The exSEL Coalition's non-profit partners, the Rennie Center and Teachers 21, provide expertise, support and training for the network. Click here to RSVP! If you have questions about this event or Senator Spilka's MetroWest Kids Initiative, please contact Puja Mehta. Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka Room 212, State House Boston, Massachusetts  02133 Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077 http://www.karenspilka.com

Senator Karen E. Spilka, Massachusetts State House, Room 212, Boston, MA 02133 Sent by karen.spilka@masenate.gov in collaboration with Try it free today

Save the Date for Senator Spilka's SEL Forum - Jan 9, 2018

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SAVE THE DATE: Senator Spilka's MetroWest Kids exSEL Forum     Tuesday, January 9, 2018 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hayden Lodge  Warren Conference Center 529 Chestnut Street, Ashland CLICK HERE TO RSVP!  Please join Senator Karen Spilka on January 9, 2018 for a conversation with the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy about exSEL: Excellence through Social-Emotional Learning, a network bringing together school districts across Massachusetts to design and implement policies and practices that promote social-emotional learning (SEL). The project is led by the exSEL Coalition, whose members include the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives and Massachusetts School Administrators Association. The exSEL Coalition's non-profit partners, the Rennie Center and Teachers 21, provide expertise, support and training for the network. Click here to RSVP! If you have questions about this event or Senator Spilka's MetroWest Kids Initiative, please contact Puja Mehta. Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka Room 212, State House Boston, Massachusetts  02133 Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077 http://www.karenspilka.com

Senator Karen E. Spilka, Massachusetts State House, Room 212, Boston, MA 02133 Sent by karen.spilka@masenate.gov in collaboration with Try it free today

In the News: background check revision proposed; social emotional learning focus

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"THE ISSUE: Background checks for school employees don’t include reports of abuse or neglect of disabled adults. THE IMPACT: While there are no known incidents involving school employees with records of abusing disabled adults, pending legislation would include such records in the background-check process. 

While background checks are standard procedure for anyone working in a school, some say a gap in the system could put children at risk. 

Under the current system, the Department of Children and Families provides information about whether a prospective school employee has ever been the subject of substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect. Reports of abuse or neglect of adults with disabilities, however, are not provided."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170922/school-association-seeks-background-check-reforms

For more from MAAPS on their legislative priorities
http://maaps.org/action-network-center/proposed-legislation/

maaps mission is “to represent private special education schools in their goal of providing the highest quality education to students with special needs.”

"THE ISSUE: Some educators say focusing on social-emotional learning can better prepare students for future success.
THE IMPACT: Nine Massachusetts school districts have joined a new program to develop and implement social-emotional learning strategies in everyday classroom activities. 

Nine Massachusetts school districts are partnering in a new program to help children build the social and emotional base they need to develop skills such as perseverance, empathy, self-awareness and healthy decision-making. 

The Excellence through Social-Emotional Learning, or exSEL, network, is intended to help schools better teach students to appropriately navigate social interactions, understand their emotions and be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses in positive ways. Developing children’s social and emotional sides can set them up for future success in life and help them deal with issues such as depression, anxiety and bullying, program participants say."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170922/schools-bring-new-focus-to-social-emotional-learning

More from the exSEL Network can be found on their webpage http://www.exselmass.org/

Jessica Minahan was the key speaker for the first professional development day for the teachers as school opened this year  http://jessicaminahan.com/

http://www.exselmass.org/

Superintendent search dates and social emotional learning

The School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb 28 had two major takeaways:

1. the updates schedule for the Superintendent search (see below)
2. the presentation, discussion (and video) on the work around social emotional learning being done in the district

Superintendent Search

• Consultants HYA have been receiving applications
• At the next School Committee meeting, the committee reviews the final set of candidates (7:00 PM on March 14)
• Interviews by the School Committee with the candidates are set for March 17
• Public forum meeting with the candidates Monday night March 20
• Leading to the School Committee meeting March 28 where they should make the selection of  the "preferred candidate"

Social emotional learning

The presentation document used Tuesday night

Social Emotional Learning - Presentation to Franklin (MA) School Committee from Franklin Matters

The first documentary produced by Franklin Public Schools shared on Tuesday night




Additional information can be found in the notes taken live during the meeting

• Live Reporting: Action Items through Closing
• Live Reporting: NEASC visit
• Social Emotional Learning - Presentation to Frankl...
• Live reporting: School Committee - Feb 28, 2017

view from the seats at the School Committee meeting Tuesday evening

The Franklin TV video of the meeting is available for replay
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=437

Social Emotional Learning - Presentation to Franklin (MA) School Committee

Social Emotional Learning - Presentation to Franklin (MA) School Committee from Franklin Matters

Peter Light
Chandler Creedon
Debbie Dixon
Kate Peretz
Brian Wildeman

not just counseling, focused on social and emotional learning

recognition of the whole team in guidance and counseling

CASEL.org leading group working in the social emotional space Also working with the State however, Franklin was working with them earlier

importance of SEL for success of students
without these SEL skills, students can learning at capacity

if 5% of the students require intervention, what does it say about Franklin schools when we have approx 17% in some form of special education?  

monthly whole school meeting, one piece of the responsive classroom approach is the individual classroom morning meeting

three stages in the approach through the school year

1. who am I?
2. what is my place in the world?
3. How can I make a difference?

approx 18-19 clubs at middle schools, high school has more clubs in addition to the intramural and interscholastic sports programs

"if you can't reach them, you can't teach them"

site used by teachers, clam.calm

zones of regulation, leads to increase control of self and can lead to problem solving

(Bilello arrives at 8:00)

team of four from Oak St nominated for special program in SEL to bring back training to the rest; a nine month program with 15 credits

substance abuse task force being rolled out across the district

check out video embedded in the presentation document above (15 mins)

IST - instructional support team, based in each school
expanding the focus of this team to include SEL

screening and assessment, i.e pyramid shown earlier
when does someone move from tier to tier? still a tool in development
not to rush into screening and assessment

Bergen - can you speak to what more counselors can do at the middle school level?
Creedon - I walked in yesterday with a schedule of things to do and spent the day supporting a student who had some problems and ended up in the hospital. My day completed after 5 when I drove the mothers car to the hospital as she had gone with the student in the ambulence

Wildeman - more staff would allow to be more proactive, currently in a reactionary model  

Bergen - is there part of the process to identify the student that is not getting involved, if involvement is so critical to their overall health and engagement?

Creedon - I had one boy who wasn't getting involved and I asked why, he said there was nothing for me to get involved. I asked what would you be involved in? He said legos. We got a lego set and it went from one kids on a Friday to over 100 a week in legoworld

Light - speaks for diverse programming to ensure a reach for all, need a niche for each student and then work into the areas that aren't their passion

Schultz - thank you for the clarification on what you provide vs. what you could provide, we need to provide the support required

O'Malley -  we need to put forth to the public, the students are full entities, this is the best work I have seen the district has done. guidance is not a passive profession, that is not the traditional view. The parents of our students are fundamental to the success for the students. They are too big a player to be left aside in this discussion. 

Senator Spilka Hosts Social Emotional Learning Discussion on Jan 17, 2017 in Ashland

Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) will host a discussion of social and emotional learning (SEL) and possible models for implementation in MetroWest schools and communities.

Social and emotional learning – defined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) as “the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions” – is increasingly recognized as the key to success, in school and beyond, for children of all backgrounds. Join Senator Spilka and CASEL senior consultant Ruth Cross to learn about the importance of SEL and ways to bring these strategies to MetroWest students.

WHO:
Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland)
Ruth Cross, Senior SEL Consultant, CASEL

WHAT:
Discussion of social and emotional learning and a model for district-wide SEL implementation

WHEN:
January 17, 2017
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Warren Conference Center and Inn
Warren House Telechron Room
529 Chestnut Street, Ashland

NOTE: 
This event is free and open to the public; attendees must RSVP via Eventbrite.

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

To learn more about SEL, visit http://www.casel.org/what-is-sel/
To learn more about Ruth Cross, visit http://www.casel.org/staff/ruth-cross/
To learn more about CASEL, visit http://www.casel.org/