Support your child with SEL
The question we get asked most often is “What can I do to support my child’s education?” This is a big question and there are many ways parents and guardians can support their child in school.
In order to succeed academically, your child needs to be in school and ready to learn. A big part of being ready to learn has a lot to do with a student’s mindset. They need to feel safe, supported and free to take positive risks. They also have to be able to control their emotions and handle difficult situations.
Your child is learning these lessons in school during an instructional period called SEL (Social Emotional Learning), which helps students develop self-awareness, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Students will learn techniques like “Best Self Reflection” to develop an action plan before a challenging time of day, or focused breathing to reset if they are feeling upset or anxious.
To help families better understand the strategies we are teaching students, we will be having an SEL night on Dec. 7 from 6-7:30 p.m.
We hope that receiving this advance notice will give you the opportunity to attend!
Attendance matters
Part of our School Comprehensive Education Plan is to improve student attendance. More specifically, we are working hard to decrease the number of students who are chronically absent, but to also increase the percentage of students who come to school each day. In reviewing our attendance data, our average daily attendance for September was 92%. Our goal is to have 95%. While we recognize that there are occasions when students need to stay home, we appreciate all that you do to get them here each day!
Save the date!
Below are a few important upcoming dates, but remember that this information and more is available on our online calendar.
- Picture Day: Oct. 20
- Parent-Teacher Conferences: Oct. 26, 4:30-7:30 p.m. & October 27, 12-2:45 p.m.
- No school, Parent-Teacher Conferences/PD Day: Oct. 27
Here to help
As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments or concerns!
Lesley Buff
Principal
(518) 475-6775
lbuff@albany.k12.ny.us
