Back to School 2020

August 29, 2020 | TheTablet.org | Back to School
Social and Emotional Planning for School Reopening – 2020
by Roxanna Elder, District Superintendent at the Diocese of Brooklyn
C29
In Thessalonians 5:18 Paul writes, “give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Our faith
encourages us to be filled with this spirit of
gratitude during these challenging times. The
source of this gratitude lies in our relationship
with Christ. Our hope is to lean into these lessons
about gratitude as we prepare to return to
school in September.
As a Catholic community, preparing and
protecting the spiritual well-being of our children,
staff and families are our top priority.
This year, the transition from the summer back
to the classroom will be different, and we are
here to support everyone through this. We are
working diligently to ensure that we create an
uplifting community, where we connect with
our students, faculty and families in these new
school configurations, while adhering to CDC
guidelines.
During the months of April through June
2020, counselors from the Program for the Development
of Human Potential, (PDHP) provided
support to children who were experiencing
crisis during the height of the pandemic. PDHP
also supported teachers’ efforts to ensure that
students experienced a safe environment to
learn by way of phone and video check-ins. In
addition, our staff was provided with A Wellness
Program from April through June 2020, to
support principals and teachers in dealing with
the stress of working in a virtual world. These
sessions included five dimensions: Emotional,
Social, Spiritual, Physical and Intellectual. This
support will continue through the September
2020-July 2021 academic year.
To ensure emotional needs are addressed
with urgency, PDHP and the Mother Cabrini
Counselors will be available to provide social
and emotional support to students and teachers
upon returning to school. The counselors
will work closely with the administrators and
teachers to identify students who have been
exposed to trauma. The counselors will facilitate
programs that will help students process
their experiences during the pandemic, as well
as allow opportunities for students to check-in
to discuss their feelings.
The counselors will implement the Support
for Students Exposed to Trauma Program or
SSET, where students will receive support on
how to deal with anxiety or nervousness, withdrawal
or isolation, depressed moods, acting
out in school and impulsive or risky behaviors.
The counselors will provide appropriate referrals
for post-traumatic stress conditions, health
emergencies, grief and bereavement, anxiety,
depression and health challenges as needed
for students and teachers. PDHP will also work
closely with administrators to customize parent
learning programs for grades K-3 and Evidence
Based Program EBP Guiding Good Choices
grades 4-8 in the virtual world.
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent
them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as these.” Matthew 19:14