5. Upcoming LearnLaunch Workshops:
Relationship Mapping to Support Social Emotional Well-Being will guide district and school leaders through the process of relationship mapping. A positive, stable relationship with a caring adult (whether a teacher, administrator, coach, or staff member) has proven benefits for students’ social emotional, personal, and academic well-being. This workshop will be held three more times, at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 25; Thursday, January 28; and February 10th. Register here and explore the Include Social-Emotional Learning Building Block tool.
Cultivating a Culture of Caring will guide educators through strategies for building a strong culture of caring in remote, hybrid, or in-person models. Participants will explore strategies and resources that cut across the 10 Building Blocks, with an emphasis on cultivating 1:1 relationships, communication, and building community. These will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 2 and Thursday, February 4. Register here and explore the Engage Learners Building Block tool.
Beyond Screens: Using Zoom to Deepen Engagement will guide district leaders, school leaders, and secondary school teachers through actionable tips and strategies for using Zoom to deepen engagement in remote, hybrid, and in-person instructional settings. This workshop will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26. Register here and explore the Engage Learners Building Block tool.
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6. Accountability and Assistance Advisory Council to Meet:
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Accountability and Assistance Advisory Council will meet virtually from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 27. Topics for discussion include the DESE’s request for temporary changes to federal accountability requirements due to the COVID-19 emergency and focusing assistance on equity and cultural responsiveness. The agenda and meeting log-in information are available on the council’s website.
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7. Bullying Webinar:
School and district administrators are invited to join Anne Gilligan from the Office of Student and Family Support and Shelagh Peoples from the Office of Planning and Research for a one-hour webinar on bullying at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 28. Anne will discuss the current bullying legislation in Massachusetts and update administrators on the latest data reporting requirements that relate to this legislation. Shelagh will summarize key findings from the latest bullying research brief; these findings are based on students' perceptions of school climate. Meeting details are provided in the registration form.
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8. Family-Friendly Resources for Help with Mental Health:
To assist in getting the word out about HandholdMA.org, a user-friendly website for Massachusetts families who are worried about their children’s mental health, one-page handouts (printable posters) are available for schools to send families through "virtual" or real backpacks. These handouts are available in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, and simplified Chinese. A 30-minute recorded webinar is also available and shows key features and how to use the website to locate mental health resources for children in Massachusetts. HandholdMA.org is designed to help families figure if their child’s behavior is something to worry about and if so, what next steps can they take.
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9. High School Science Modeling and Simulation Opportunity:
The Department has partnered with Education Development Center (EDC), with support from the National Science Foundation, to create Science+C curriculum units to introduce students to computer modeling and simulation and their relevance to science. Science+C enhances three core science courses – biology, chemistry, and physics – with units that teach students valuable skills in problem solving by using and modifying computer models. The Science+C units are customizable for remote, hybrid, and in-person settings. Participating science teachers will receive free Science+C courses, year-long professional development, and a stipend. Neither students nor teachers need previous computer science experience. Learn more at scienceplusc.org and apply for the 2021-22 school year here.
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10. School Wellness Coaching Program:
The Department’s Office for Food and Nutrition is pleased announce that the following districts and schools have been selected for the Massachusetts School Wellness Coaching Program, which pairs districts with a school wellness coach who will help assess the local wellness policy and will help improve compliance with that policy. Congratulations to the following districts and their administrators: Chelmsford Public Schools, Cohasset Public Schools, the Italian Home for Children, Neighborhood House Charter School in Boston, New Bedford Public Schools, Rising Tide Charter School in Plymouth, Salem Public Schools, and Wilmington Public Schools. Any district administrator who is interested in learning more about how to advance wellness in their district is asked to email School Wellness Specialist Nicole Good at Nicole.Good@mass.gov.
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- BOKS: BOKS is a free physical activity program run by teachers, non-profit staff, parents, and educators that helps increase fitness and social emotional wellbeing for both student and adult participants. The program can be used for in-person and remote activities. To sign up for more information, click here.
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