Mindsets and Goals:  These lessons focus on teaching students that it is possible to grow your brain and get smarter.  Students learn about the value of having a "Growth Mindset" and that their abilities and personalities can change.  Research has shown that when individuals have a growth mindset, they are more resilient. Click on the following link to find more out about our Effective Effort initiative and how we reinforce students having a growth mindset. Effective Effort

            How parents can support a growth mindset: 

    • Share with your child about a time when you learned something new, the challenges you faced and how getting help from others and working hard helped with learning this new skill.
    • Share with your child how you accomplished a major goal (such as running a marathon or achieving success in your job)and the obstacles you faced along the way.  Ask your child if they have any goals they would like to accomplish.


    Values and Friendships:  These lessons teach students how to identify their personal values and how those values can help them to make good decisions and have positive relationships with others.  Research has shown that when individuals reflect on their values, they feel more socially connected, they engage in more prosocial behaviors and they feel less stressed.  Click on the following link to view photos of our student values. /site/Default.aspx?PageID=4389

          How parents can support lessons on values and friendships:

    • Ask your child how his or her values can help him or her be a positive influence at school, on a team or other group that they belong to.
    • Share with your child about a time when you made a new friend and the behaviors that you engaged in that contributed to the bond you developed with this friend.


    Thoughts, Emotions and Decisions: These lessons teach students the role that emotions play in their lives, how to handle unhelpful thoughts and strong emotions and specific strategies for calming down.  Students are taught strategies such as positive self-talk, deep, centered breathing.  Research has shown that effective emotion management improves social competence and teaches students to cope with problems in more effective ways. 

          How parents can support lessons on thoughts and emotions:

    • Ask your child to describe a time when he or she was really angry and the different types of choices they have to manage those feelings the next time they arise.
    • Talk with your child about the connection between thoughts and emotions and how unhelpful thoughts can contribute to negative emotions.  Help your child identify positve self-talk statements that they can use when a negative thought arises (such as "I can handle this", "This is only temporary").
    • Practice deep breathing with your child or explore the variety of apps available to support deep breathing.

    Resolving Conflicts: These lessons focus on perspective taking, how to avoid serious conflicts, identifying the difference between apologizing and making amends as well as exploring ways to express gratitude and how this hels make positive personal connections and a safe and supportive school environment.

         How parents can support these lessons:

    • Talk to your child about what you are thankful for and how you show your gratitude
    • Ask your child if there is anything they would like to make amends for and discuss what he or she could do.
    • Talk to your child about who they could go to within school if they were ever involved in a serious conflict.
    • Talk to your child about who they could go to within school if they ever felt mistreated and why they should never suffer in silence.