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Launch of Programming at our 3 Partner Schools!

This year, we are offering a wide variety of enriching after-school clubs aimed at fostering student creativity, social-emotional learning (SEL), and academic success at our three partner schools - The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology, PS 59: The Dawn Best School, and High School for Media and Communications. From middle school creative clubs to high school career-focused courses, these schools are providing a diverse range of activities aimed at nurturing students' creativity, physical health, and social-emotional development.

 

The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology

At The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology, which started its after-school programming on September 9th, students have access to a robust selection of activities, ranging from creative arts to physical wellness.

 

For middle schoolers, the available programs include:

  • Anime/Manga Club
  • Arts & Crafts
  • Band
  • BioQuest
  • Creative EQ
  • Dance
  • Game Theory
  • HLAX Boys and Girls
  • Musical
  • Strength & Stretching
  • Table Tennis
  • Team Sports
  • Visual Arts

 

This month in chef academy, students dove into an exciting culinary adventure, starting with an introduction to the program during their first lesson. They explored the question, “What will we do in Chef Academy?” and kicked off their cooking journey by preparing a delicious pasta dish. In the following lessons, they focused on building foundational skills, including following safety procedures and understanding cooking terms. Students then transitioned into breakfast dishes, mastering skills like reading recipes and learning techniques such as flipping and beating while preparing vegetable omelets. They continued expanding their breakfast repertoire by making waffles using a waffle iron, and healthy muffins, where they learned how to bake.

 

As the month progressed, students tackled lunch and dinner meals, gradually developing more complex skills like altering recipes, using different kitchen equipment such as skewers and blenders, and learning cooking styles like grilling and chopping. They explored various cultural dishes, including Hawaiian BBQ chicken skewers, Mexican-style sliders, and mini deep-dish pizzas. Each lesson was filled with teamwork and hands-on learning, providing students with a diverse and enriching experience in the kitchen.

 

In the Strength, Stretching, and Flexibility club, students focused on building both strength and flexibility. Participants engaged in workouts like push-ups and sit-ups to develop core strength, followed by a variety of body stretches. The benefits of stretching are numerous, including injury prevention, improved muscle coordination, better posture, enhanced sports performance, and overall physical and mental well-being. This club helps foster a balanced approach to fitness, supporting students in achieving greater health and resilience.

 

For high schoolers, programming includes:

  • Blackity
  • Creative Writing
  • Health
  • Journalism
  • Graphic Design
  • Bridgeology/Salvadori/Game Theory
  • Studio Art

 

In Creative Writing, students have started to engage in self-expression and thinking imaginatively through various methods such as poetry, short stories, comic books, songs, and scripts. In this class, free-writing will be used as a way to brainstorm, reflect, and discuss ideas. Students will also look at art to inspire their writing, followed by creating their own art through words, rhyming schemes, and visuals. 

 

In Bridgeology, students will become exposed to the fascinating world of bridge engineering, highlighting bridges as symbols of connection and resilience. Students will explore the structural uniqueness of different bridge types, studying key components like trusses, arches, and suspension systems while learning how forces such as tension and compression support heavy loads. Through lessons on iconic bridges, participants will apply geometric principles like symmetry, load distribution, and the Pythagorean theorem to design their own efficient structures. The program emphasizes real-world problem-solving, culminating in a collaborative final project where students will build a scale model of a truss bridge, merging creativity and engineering to address community challenges. This club offers an exciting blend of teamwork, geometry, and hands-on learning.

 

P.S. 59: The Dawn Best School

PS 59 began its programming on September 30th, offering a wide range of day and after school activities that aim to strengthen both academic and social-emotional skills. Some of the key offerings include:

  • Arts & Crafts: This course helps students develop a relationship with art, using various materials to create projects that reflect themes such as community and self-expression. The program culminates in a student art exhibition.
  • SEL (Social Emotional Learning): Students partake in a social emotional learning club, part of the daytime lunch program. Anchored in the Niroga Institute's Transformative Life Skills (TLS) curriculum, this course helps students practice centering, breathing, and reflection to increase focus and develop empathy. This program aligns with CASEL’s SEL framework, supporting students in building self-awareness, self-management, and relationship skills.
  • Dance: Through hip-hop and Latin dance styles, students gain physical coordination, self-discipline, and cultural knowledge while working together to create choreography.
  • Sports and Wellness: This program encourages physical activity through sports like soccer and pickleball, while also emphasizing the importance of cardiovascular health.
  • Phoenix Choice & Voice: A board game club that teaches critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills through strategic gameplay.
  • Phoenix Explorers: A STEM program where students engage in hands-on science and engineering projects, fostering creativity and innovation.
  • Phoenix Futures: A career exploration program that introduces students to various professions and helps them think critically about their future career paths.
  • Phoenix Voices: A music club that builds confidence and social connection through singing and exploring different genres of music.
  • Phoenix Steppers: A unique club that teaches students how to use body movements and rhythms to communicate and tell stories through stepping.
  • I Am Beauty Social Club: Focused on self-care and self-love, this club teaches students about different hair textures, skin tones, and hygiene routines while fostering a sense of sisterhood.
  • Phoenix Spelling Bees: A competitive club that enhances students' spelling, vocabulary, and language skills while promoting teamwork and confidence through Spelling Bee competitions.

 

High School for Media and Communications

High School for Media and Communications will start its programming on October 15th. Students here can explore a variety of creative, media-driven, and technology-focused activities that allow them to express themselves and prepare for future careers in communications. The programming includes sports broadcasting, media news, edge tech, set design, and more, ensuring that students are well-equipped with the tools they need to thrive in the world of media and beyond. In sports broadcasting, students will channel their inner ESPN to report on local sports for their classmates. Students involved in edge tech will learn about resourcefulness by creating high-quality content using everyday technology found in the average American home. In media news, students will curate, write, and present breaking stories, while set design offers hands-on experience in building the theatrical environments that bring productions to life. In addition, students can explore various clubs such as dance, art, ping pong, dominoes, guitar, and improv, ensuring a well-rounded experience that blends both artistic and technical talents.

 

With such a wide array of programs, students at The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology, PS 59: The Dawn Best School, and the High School for Media and Communications are being offered enriching experiences that will shape their future. These schools are investing in creativity, academic success, social-emotional growth, and physical well-being, ensuring that students thrive both in the classroom and beyond.

English - 10/21/2024 - Anthony Ramirez Diaz
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Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Programming at P.S. 004: Summer Rising with Arete Education

The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum at P.S. 004, implemented as part of the Summer Rising program with Arete Education, aims to foster emotional intelligence and well-being among students. This program is designed to teach students the eight basic emotions, as well as various mindfulness and relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and TLS (Total Life System) exercises like the Warrior Pose. Additionally, students connect classroom activities with characters and scenes from the movies Inside Out 1 and 2. Art projects related to SEL, along with lessons on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, are integral parts of the curriculum.

 

The SEL program caters to students in grades K-5, ages 5-11 years. The curriculum is thoughtfully divided into two sections to match the developmental stages of different age groups. For grades K-2, the projects and activities are simplified, while for grades 3-5, the projects are more advanced, ensuring that the content is age-appropriate and engaging for all students.

 

The core SEL competencies focused on in the program include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. These competencies are crucial for the holistic development of the students, equipping them with essential life skills.

 

SEL is seamlessly integrated with other after-school activities and subjects. Each enrichment activity begins and ends with an SEL check-in, warm-up, or exercise. On Fridays, before going on trips, students practice TLS exercises while waiting for the bus. This consistent integration ensures that SEL principles are reinforced throughout the students' daily routines.

 

Engaging students and making SEL lessons relatable and meaningful is achieved through various strategies. Real-life examples and scenarios are presented to students, prompting them to consider their reactions and the most reasonable ways to act. Connections to the movies Inside Out 1 and 2 are made, including a trip to the movie theater to watch Inside Out 2 to learn more about different emotions. Activities such as SEL Bingo and discussions about self-care activities like getting enough sleep, nature walks, and eating well further engage students.

 

One notable success story involves students mastering the Walking in a Rectangle exercise. Initially, many students struggled with this centering exercise, but with regular practice throughout the program, they gradually improved. By the end of the program, students were performing the exercise perfectly, demonstrating their growth and mastery of the skill.

 

The positive changes observed in students participating in the SEL program are profound. Students become more self-aware of their emotions, learn to manage their emotions and situations effectively, develop social awareness, build strong relationship skills with their peers, and make responsible decisions. These skills contribute significantly to their overall development and well-being.

 

Shakira Peralta Villano, an SEL instructor, finds the most rewarding aspect of teaching SEL in this summer program to be the opportunity to teach students about empathy, self-care practices, kindness, respect, and TLS techniques. She finds immense joy in seeing students learn and apply these skills independently, witnessing their growth in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

 

Edith “Millye” Rodriguez, another SEL instructor, shares that the most rewarding aspect of teaching SEL is witnessing the transformation in students as they become empathetic, resilient, and empowered individuals.

 

The SEL program is making a significant impact on students' lives. By equipping students with essential emotional and social skills, the program not only enhances their academic performance but also prepares them for the challenges of life. The success stories and positive changes observed in students highlight the importance and effectiveness of SEL in fostering well-rounded, emotionally intelligent individuals.

 

English - 08/23/2024 - Anthony Ramirez Diaz
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Reflecting on the ExpandED SEL Convening 2022: Belonging and Excelling Toward a Bright Future Part 2

This April, Arete Education had the remarkable honor of joining fellow SEL Educators and exceptional EQ-minded professionals in facilitating the ExpandED Schools SEL Convening 2022: Belonging and Excelling Toward a Bright Future. This annual event was curated to lead members of the SEL educational community in networking and in learning promising SEL practices. Arete was asked to co-facilitate the Breakout Room focused on SEL Frameworks and Models. We shared Arete’s SEL Curriculum and the SEL Module II model with a wider audience, and in turn, received numerous SEL resources and praise from others. This 4-part Reflection will share the highlights and takeaways from the Convening and also challenge the readers to join the SEL conversations.

Feel free to explore the resources below:

· Session Slides and Resources (presenter slides/videos)

· Session Recordings

The Convening was sectioned into four parts. The second portion was The City Artifact Shareout, which is a space for selected SEL Educators and professionals to share the resources they utilized to help guide EQ activities within their communities. This year, seven eager SEL experts volunteered their go-to tools. This article highlights three.

  1. Tozyea Reed (Dallas, TX) - SEL Calm Corner are physical spaces designed to help students check in with themselves. In these spaces are handouts, and hands-on tools for self-awareness and mindfulness.

  2. Kara Hader (Tulsa, OK). - Yale University’s Mood Meters are color-coded zones that help students identify their moods and that mood intensity. These meters are helpful in setting up norms and practice for noticing how you feel and then regulating those emotions.

  3. Lavone Walker (Omaha, NE) - Vibratone is a percussion bell that is used to focus group attention. At the sound, SEL student practitioners are intentionally centering.

Other impactful artifacts shared included Cooking Clubs for kids and staff, SEL Calm kits, and stipends geared at SEL initiatives. All of the artifacts provided takeaways that could be specified to our own communities and EQ practices.

The Arete SEL Challenge: Thank you for reading this article. As a part of our growing SEL community, we invite you to join the conversation. Which of Adams's highlighted artifacts interests you the most? Which of the briefly mentioned artifacts would you like to hear more about? Do you have any cool SEL artifacts to share?

English - 05/09/2022 - Nicoise Waring
racial-gap

Reflecting on the ExpandED SEL Convening 2022: Belonging and Excelling Toward a Bright Future Part 3

This April, Arete Education had the remarkable honor of joining fellow SEL Educators and exceptional EQ-minded professionals in facilitating the ExpandED Schools SEL Convening 2022: Belonging and Excelling Toward a Bright Future. This annual event was curated to lead members of the SEL educational community in networking and in learning promising SEL practices. Arete was asked to co-facilitate the Breakout Room focused on SEL Frameworks and Models. We shared Arete’s SEL Curriculum and the SEL Module II model with a wider audience, and in turn, received numerous SEL resources and praise from others. This 4-part Reflection will share the highlights and takeaways from the Convening and also challenge the readers to join the SEL conversations.

Feel free to explore the resources below:

· Session Slides and Resources (presenter slides/videos)

· Session Recordings

The Convening was sectioned into four parts. The third portion was The City Networking Session, and participants had a choice of three Breakout Rooms. The Breakout Room discussions were focused on Strengthening Community Partnerships, Youth Voice, and Policy and SEL Working Groups, respectively. I joined the Youth Voice room since Arete’s Vision, Mission, and Motto are aligned with youth advocacy and SEL Leadership. The facilitator, Farhen Johnson, was phenomenal in delivering this thought:

 “SEL can’t work if it’s being done to you. However, SEL can work if we are speaking life into each other and showing up for one another.”

She drove home her point by challenging us with this thought:

“ SEL is a thread. How can we braid it in culturally?"

I took this as: Where in Arete’s program can we emphasize beneficial customs and observations based on our specific cultures and experience?

The key is developing a Connected Environment. Johnson listed four strategies for developing Connected Environments:

  1. Know Names

  2. Practice Emotional Checks

  3. Introduce Community Circles

  4. Keep all spaces in alignment

English - 05/09/2022 - Nicoise Waring
Arete-Education-SEL-Guide-for-Educators-Flower-Banner

Reflecting on the ExpandED SEL Convening 2022: Belonging and Excelling Toward a Bright Future Part 1

This April, Arete Education had the remarkable honor of joining fellow SEL Educators and exceptional EQ-minded professionals in facilitating the ExpandED Schools SEL Convening 2022: Belonging and Excelling Toward a Bright Future. This annual event was curated to lead members of the SEL educational community in networking and in learning promising SEL practices. Arete was asked to co-facilitate the Breakout Room focused on SEL Frameworks and Models. We shared Arete’s SEL Curriculum and the SEL Module II model with a wider audience, and in turn, received numerous SEL resources and praise from others. This 4-part Reflection will share the highlights and takeaways from the Convening and also challenge the readers to join the SEL conversations.

Feel free to explore the resources below:
· Session Slides and Resources (presenter slides/videos)
· Session Recordings

The Convening was sectioned into four parts:

  1. The Welcome and Key Note Speech
  2. The City Artifact Share-out
  3. The City Networking Session,
  4. SEL Professional Development

The keynote speaker was David Adams, CEO of Urban Assembly, and the premise of his presentation was to drive home how Belonging truly influences one’s purpose and need for education. The main text of reference was W.E.B Dubois' The Souls of Black Folk. This literary work revealed to Adams several insights. He emphasized three:

     1.) The purpose of Education is to transform from a carefree man to a thoughtful man, and the responsibility of each educated person is to help us all through the struggles and into progress.

     2.) To belong is to understand your responsibility to the group, and the group's responsibility to you. Being named and claimed can be healthy and helpful.

     3.) Burdens are easier to bare if everyone carries their own weight. Keep in mind that the strengths need never be unformed, as long as their benefits are mutual.

In closing, Adams reiterated the importance of belonging to and in educated communities by emphasizing the standstill politics places on education. Adams expressed that when education is guided through teaching rather than learning, a student’s scope is narrowed. The solution to teacher-centered education is in our shared characters, groups, and mutually shared experiences.

The Arete SEL Challenge: Thank you for reading this article. As a part of our growing SEL community, we invite you to join the conversation. Which of Adams's three insights were most impactful to your concept of belonging? What are some of the groups you proudly belong to?


English - 05/09/2022 - Nicoise Waring

Grounded in SEL

Last month, we kicked off our SEL in the Curriculum, a monthly workshop series! This work is targeted to support Enrichment Specialists, Teachers, and Support Staff implementing Arete’s SEL Practices during their time with students.

 Our goals for this first session were :

1.)  Introduce the documents in the SEL in the Curriculum Workshop drive space and how to access them. 

2.) Highlight the Arete SEL & EQ Activities for immediate implementation 

3.) Engage and practice 2-3 of the Arete SEL & EQ Activities

As the participants gained access to the drive space, it wasn’t long before they all began to select ideal Icebreakers and exercises their students would be just as excited to experience. As a group, we engaged in an SEL Check-in Question, Deep Breathing, and Plutchik Wheel Color Check-outs. 

Of the session, Nicoise Waring said: "As a facilitator, I absolutely enjoyed the in-person engagement and smiles from personal EQ moments. The feedback received supports the adaptive nature of the SEL in the Curriculum workshops to instructors’ and students’ needs. I’m thrilled and I look forward to our workshop next month!"

These are just a few of the many exercises our staff will share with our students. As we sow these seeds, we hope to fuel the growth that will lead to our students sharing the fruit of these practices with the community!

English - 11/09/2021 - Ismael Valentin, Jr.

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