Initiative Helps Students Develop Social And Emotional Skills

As part of the 2019-2020 school year, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District launched the Elementary Connect program of monthly activities that were created to provide all of their youngest students with important social/emotional learning experiences that will help them to be successful in school and life. The program is designed to help educate the whole child during their early and fundamental years, and includes themes like empathy, critical thinking, communication and problem solving. Students bring home a newsletter with talking points and activities to give family members the opportunity and tools to continue these important conversations at home.

A cross-section of faculty members from all five elementary schools, departments, and grade levels was brought together in the summer of 2019 to create this collection of common monthly learning experiences. The Elementary Connect experiences are planned so that all of the district’s students, regardless of school, grade level, or program, would share a common framework throughout their elementary years in Half Hollow Hills.

“We wanted to create a districtwide initiative that would identify some important areas of focus, and ensure all of our students had a similar learning experience,” said Diana Ketcham, assistant superintendent for elementary education. “We wanted to do this all while also partnering with our families at home.”

On the same day as the monthly Elementary Connect, a Home Connect newsletter is sent home providing parents with a brief description of the learning experience and some talking points about the topic. In lieu of the typical homework assignments, students are asked to share their learning with their families, and consider some of the extension conversations or activities provided in the newsletter.

"The Elementary Connect program has given us the opportunity, as a family, to be engaged in some really meaningful conversations that are happening in our children’s classrooms about topics such as diversity/inclusion, empathy, communication, problem solving, and peer relationships,” said Kristin Johnson, parent of a first grade student at Vanderbilt Elementary School. “We appreciate that our district recognizes the need to include social/emotional learning in the curriculum for our children and has created a way for all of the children across the district, at all ages, to have a common language and understanding that will help them to be successful in school and all areas of life."

Elementary Connect activities have included a meet in the middle game where students learned about diversity and inclusion through exploring their own similarities and differences with one another, a role-playing game that helped students develop empathy for each other, and a series of skits where students learned about common communications bloopers like interrupting and withdrawing.

“Now, more than ever, we need innovative programs like our Elementary Connects to help our young people develop their emotional maturity and resilience,” said Dr. Patrick Harrigan, superintendent of schools in Half Hollow Hills. “This collection of character education lessons ensures a common thread and language throughout our district, while enabling our students and their families to grow skills and traits that are crucial to positive mental health.”

Ketcham added, “We are extremely proud of the collaboration of educators throughout the district, and the positive impact that this effort is having on our students and families.”

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of almost 8,000 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education. The district is committed to providing all students with opportunities to excel in academics, athletics and the arts.