Malletts Bay School is pleased to offer a variety of skill-based social emotional learning small groups throughout each school year. These groups support students’ social and emotional development, which can have a positive influence on academic development, peer relationships, and overall student success . If your child is selected for a social emotional small group at any point in the school year, you will receive more communication at that time. Examples of group topics include self awareness of emotions, self management, social awareness and relationship skills.

Every classroom has a Unified Arts class called C.A.R.E. Class either Quarter 1 or Quarter 2, and then again in Quarter 3 or 4. In C.A.R.E. class we practice respect and empathy to help us build positive and healthy relationships. C.A.R.E. Class is taught by the School Counselors - Ms. Peltier and Ms. Merrill. In the Fall, students are learning about healthy/respectful relationship behaviors, including respecting people’s feelings, bodies, and other personal boundaries, and asking for permission/consent to make sure we don’t cross someone’s boundaries. Other topics include privacy, bodies, and asking for help from trusted adults. These lessons are part of the We Care Elementary curriculum from Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. At the bottom of this email is more information for caregivers about how you can prevent child abuse.

C.A.R.E. class is also an opportunity to reinforce classroom Second Step lessons on peaceful problem solving solutions using assertive communication. Students practice assertively using eight verbal and non-verbal possible solutions. The problem solving solutions that students learn and practice include:

• Make a deal
• Tell them to stop
• Apologize
• Talk it ou
• Wait and cool off
• Walk away
• Go to another game
• Ignore it

We practice choosing two different solutions to defuse medium-sized problems with peers. If a problem continues after trying to solve it, we teach students to get help from an adult. We teach kids that if they have a big problem, they should go to an adult for help right away. If you’re interested in reinforcing peaceful problem solving solutions using the same solutions we use in C.A.R.E. class, here is a resource for families.

• What You Need to Know About Sleep for Your Child - American Academy of Family Physicians
• Dealing With After School Restraint Collapse - Psychology Today
• Problem Solving for Students - Kelso’s Choice
• Prevent Child Abuse Vermont - Information for families about abuse prevention