Overview
Social and Emotional School Climate refers to the psychosocial aspects of students’ educational experience that influence their social and emotional development. The social and emotional climate of a school can impact student engagement in school activities; relationships with other students, staff, family, and community; and academic performance. A positive social and emotional school climate is conducive to effective teaching and learning. Such climates promote health, growth, and development by providing a safe and supportive learning environment.
CSH Team Facilitators – Social and Emotional School Climate
- Jody Monroe, jmonroe@bethlehemschools.org, Superintendent
- David Hurst, dhurst@bethlehemschools.org, Deputy Superintendent
- Kathy Johnston, kjohnston@bethlehemschools.org, SESS Director
- Kristen Connor, kconnor@bethlehemschools.org, K-12 School Counselor Supervisor
- JoAnn Menrath, jmenrath@bethlehemschools.org, School Nurse Coordinator
- Michael Klugman, mklugman@bethlehemschools.org, Middle School Principal
- Dianna Reagan, dreagan@bethlehemschools.org, Eagle Elementary Principal
- Heidi Bonacquist, hbonacquist@bethlehemschools.org, Slingerlands Elementary Principal
Vision
We hope to help students and staff make positive connections by increasing the emotional climate within the District and creating a supportive emotional community.
Strategies and Actions
The Backpack Program
Launched by the Bethlehem Central High School Student Senate, the weekend backpack food program is a districtwide effort designed to address food insecurity and food shortages affecting some of the district’s students. The BC Backpack Program is intended to supplement food resources for affected students when school is not in session, focusing on weekends, holidays and school breaks.
Research has shown that students who are not hungry attend school more regularly, have improved academic achievement, and have fewer disciplinary issues at school. Food shortages and/or nutritional deficiencies can have a long-term impact on a child’s physical and mental health and economic future.
Bus of the Month
The elementary “Bus of the Month” program is designed to create a supportive and positive environment to and from school and to strengthen school bus behavior by focusing on the four Rules of the Bus: listen to your driver; keep your hands to yourself; stay in your seat; and use your inside voice.
With a simple “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” bus drivers will report daily on overall behavior of students who ride the buses to and from the district’s five elementary schools. At the end of each month, the bus with the highest number of positive reports at each school will be awarded with the Bus of the Month placard.