Celebrating National SEL Week

National Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Week (March 4-8) is celebrated annually to bring awareness to the importance of cultivating emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.

Spearheaded by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), this weeklong celebration is a platform for educators, caregivers, and advocates to share resources and best practices. At the conclusion of the week, March 8th is celebrated as International SEL Day.

At CMS, we are excited to celebrate the growing work we are doing across the county to meet the social-emotional learning needs of our students.

The significance of SEL extends beyond academic achievement. It equips students with vital skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

For example, below are just a few ways to incorporate SEL practices into daily interactions:

• Self-awareness – Help children identify their feelings by asking open-ended questions about their emotions, thoughts, and experiences.
• Self-management – Identify and use calming strategies like deep breathing when upset.
• Responsible decision-making – Evaluate the benefits and consequences of one’s actions when faced with a tough decision.

National SEL Week serves as a reminder of the profound impact of social-emotional learning on students’ lives and our greater community. 

As we take the time to celebrate SEL during this weeklong celebration, we also recognize the value of SEL as part of our ongoing efforts to cultivate empathy, resilience, and overall well-being in each CMS student.

See below for additional resources:

• SEL in action at CMS
• CMS SEL webpage
• SEL activities in schools (for March 4/5):
• Impact of SEL (via CASEL)