Superintendent's Update: Friday, March 11, 2022

Today, March 11, 2022, The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough joined in celebrating the International Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Day. As the District works to bring its Vision (Portrait of a Graduate) to fruition, a critical component is to help develop healthy and balanced learners. Learners who:

Develop and demonstrate awareness, sensitivity, concern, and respect to connect with self and others' feelings, opinions, experiences, and cultures.
Use reflective practices to understand one's strengths, challenges, and passions.
Make choices to support a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally.
Demonstrate resilience through the ability to manage emotions, stress, and challenges.

As part of this work, SEL is a District priority, as it is an integral part of education and human development. Over the past two years, there have been many challenges and accomplishments. Many aspects of learning became highly challenging; however, a tremendous amount was learned about individual health, history and civics, resilience, and economics, to name a few.

Throughout this year, Dr. Jennifer Lipton-O'Connor, District Coordinator of Social Emotional Learning, has worked closely with each of the District's ten schools to establish a shared understanding of SEL. Using the CASEL framework, she has launched a systemic approach that emphasizes establishing equitable learning environments and coordinating practices across classrooms, schools, families, and communities to enhance all students' social, emotional, and academic learning. To learn more about the CASEL framework, I encourage families to visit the CASEL website. In the weeks, months, and years ahead, Dr. Lipton-O'Connor will share the District's progress and successes in moving this important work forward.

Respectfully,

Gregory L. Martineau

Superintendent of Schools