The Friendzy Program of Social-Emotional Learning

St. Joseph Catholic School will be kicking off a second year with the Friendzy social-emotional learning program. This interactive program, designed specifically for Catholic elementary school students, complements our social-emotional learning curriculum which explores the ways in which our Catholic faith, faith-filled actions, and prayer help our students to develop strong social skills and deeper relationships with each other and God. As we continue to learn about Catholic virtues and saints each month we will also work on building healthy relationships, developing empathy and strengthening our school community.

Friendzy will once again be taught by our counselor during weekly classroom counseling lessons with the support of faculty, staff and parents!

The global pandemic brought a heightened awareness to the importance of mental well-being and the need for strong social skills and emotional management. Now more than ever our students need to be equipped to navigate the uncertainty in their lives with a deeper sense of faith and community. Social skills such as self-awareness, responsible decision-making, self-management and relationship-building are some of the tools that make this possible.
 

As part of this program, each SJS student will receive a student workbook that will be used in class. Parents will receive updates about each lesson and suggestions for ways to support social skills development at home. That information can be found on this page.                                               

January Catchphrase: I Will Respond, Not React!





 

This month's Friendzy unit is about being responsible for our how we react to the events of our lives each day and the feelings that come with them. Students will learn that it is their responsibility to control how they respond in stressful and emotional situations. They will also learn about the tools that help them to respond in positive, helpful ways. This type of learning is reinforced throught the school day; developing tools to help us respond to challenges is a lifelong process. Our students are working to develop the tools that can help them develop resilience, flexiblity and emotional regulation.

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Friendzy at Home

Dear Parents,  

This unit gives ample opportunity to talk through the challenge of responding instead of reacting. Emotions are good and helpful and give us the ability to recognize when we need to listen to them and not let them rule over us! 

 

Continue the Conversation at home with your student. Here are the main points of this unit: 
 

1. Feelings and emotions are helpful indicators. Feelings and emotions are good gifts from God. We can glorify Him with our feelings and emotions
2. Listen to your body. Our body can give us “warning signs” to help us know how we are feeling inside. Paying attention to our warning signs can help us make the right decision.
3. Don’t let feelings and emotions R.U.L.E. over you! If we feel like our feelings and emotions are getting out of control, remember they are not out boss! Instead remember the acronym R.U.L.E. (Recognize, Understand, Label, and Express)  and know that with God, we can respond instead of react in every situation.

  

Key Verses :

James 1:19-20

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

Genesis 4:7

“But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

One way to help your child respond instead of react is to help them identify their “warning signs”. When we are angry or upset our body reacts with our emotions. Breathing can change, muscles can become tight, hands turn into fists, etc. Pay attention to your child’s warning signs to help remind them to not let their emotions R.U.L.E. over them!

 

GOD’S PLAN IS BETTER
God knows what is best for us. As it says in one of our key verses, James 1:19-20, we should be quick to listen and slow to anger. A great way to remember this is to STOP. PRAY. WALK AWAY. Doing these three steps will help them choose to respond best to the situation and truly live out James 1:19-20. 

 

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Friendzy en Casa

Queridos Padres, 

 

Esta unidad brinda una amplia oportunidad para hablar sobre el desafío de responder en lugar de reaccionar. Las emociones son buenas y útiles y nos dan la capacidad de reconocer cuando necesitamos escucharlas y no dejar que nos dominen.  Continúe la Subir en casa con su estudiante. Aquí están los puntos principales de esta unidad: 

 

1. Los sentimientos y las emociones son indicadores útiles. Los sentimientos y las emociones son buenos regalos de Dios. Podemos glorificarlo con nuestros sentimientos y emociones
2. Escucha a tu cuerpo. Nuestro cuerpo puede darnos "señales de advertencia" para ayudarnos a saber cómo nos sentimos en el interior. Prestar atención a nuestras señales de advertencia puede ayudarnos a tomar la decisión correcta.
3. ¡No dejes que los sentimientos y las emociones te dominen! Si sentimos que nuestros sentimientos y emociones se están saliendo de control, x ¡ellos no son los jefes! En su lugar x para Reconocer, Entender, Etiquetar, y expresar sus emociones y saber que con Dios, podemos responder en lugar de reaccionar en cada situación.

 

Versículo clave (puntos de anclaje Bíblicos): 

Santiago 1:19-20

"Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, tomen nota de esto: todos deben ser rápidos para escuchar, lentos para hablar y lentos para enojarse, porque la ira humana no produce la justicia que Dios desea.” 

Génesis 4: 7b
"Pero si no hacéis lo que es justo, el pecado está a vuestras puertas; quiere teneros a vosotros, pero debéis dominarlo.”

UNA manera de ayudar a su hijo a responder en lugar de reaccionar es ayudarlo a identificar sus "señales de advertencia". Cuando estamos enojados o molestos nuestro cuerpo reacciona con nuestras emociones. La respiración puede cambiar, los músculos pueden convertirse en resistencia, las manos se convierten en puños, etc. ¡Preste atención a las señales de advertencia de su hijo para ayudarle a recordar que no dejen que sus emociones se apoderen de ellas! 

Dios sabe lo que es mejor para nosotros. Como dice en uno de nuestros versículos claves, Santiago 1:19-20, debemos ser rápidos para escuchar y tardo para la ira. Una gran manera de hacer esto es PARAR. ORAR. VETE. Hacer estos tres pasos les ayudará a elegir responder mejor a la situación y realmente vivir fuera de Santiago 1: 19-20.  

Compartir un momento en el que tu estudiante decidió no dejar que sus emociones dominan sobre ellos y respondió en lugar de reaccionar!

 

December Catchphrase: I Am Known!













 

Dear Parents, 

Here is some additional information about this month’s unit to help you “keep the conversation going,” at home:

Psalm 139:1-4

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”

1. God knows you. We are not a number or nameless person. God knows the stories of our lives even before we are born.. He knows your story and he loves you. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you less. He loves you because He loves you.
2. Know your story. It’s important that we know our own stories. Understanding  our own stories helps us know who we are. God is going to work through every part of your story to grow and strengthen you.
3. Know other people’s stories. Our stories teach us about ourselves and about each other. WHen we know each other’s stories, it helps us to be kind to each other, celebrate our differences and know how to help and support each other. We want to be in the kind of class where every one of us is known.

EVERYONE IS A STORYTELLER /// Just as we are teaching the students to share their stories, we want you as parents to share yours as well! During dinner or on your way to a sporting event ask about your child’s story and then share your own! Doing this will create a deeper connection for your family and put what they are learning in school into their home environment! 

GOD’S LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL /// Because God wrote our stories, He knows every single bump, mistake, failure, and loss along the way. Regardless of knowing all of our weak moments God loves us anyway. There is nothing we need to prove to him or level of perfection we need to reach, we are KNOWN and we are loved unconditionally.

Queridos Padres, 

Salmo 139:1-4

"Me has escudriñado, Señor, y me conoces. Sabes cuando me siento y cuando me levanto; percibes mis pensamientos desde lejos. Usted discernir mi salida y mi reposo; está familiarizado con todos mis caminos. Antes de que una palabra esté en mi lengua tú, Señor, lo sabes completamente.”

1. Dios te conoce. No somos un número o una persona sin nombre. Dios conoce las historias de nuestras vidas incluso antes de que se conviertan . Conoce tu historia y te quiere. No hay nada que puedas hacer para que te ame menos. Te ama porque te ama.
2. Conoce tu historia. Es importante que conozcamos nuestras propias historias. Entender nuestras propias historias nos ayuda a saber quiénes somos. Dios va a trabajar a través de cada parte de tu historia para crecer y fortalecerse.
3. Conocer las historias de otras personas. Nuestras historias nos enseñan acerca de nosotros mismos y acerca de los demás. Cuando conocemos las historias del otro, nos ayuda a ser amables el uno con el otro, celebrar nuestras potencial y saber cómo ayudarnos y apoyarnos el uno al otro. Queremos estar en el tipo de clase donde cada uno de nosotros es conocido.

TODO el mundo es un NARRADOR /// al igual que estamos enseñando a los estudiantes a compartir sus historias, queremos que ustedes como padres compartan la suya también! Durante la cena o de camino a un evento deportivo, pregunte sobre la historia de su hijo y luego comparta la suya. ¡Hacer esto creará una conexión más profunda para tu familia y pondrá lo que están aprendiendo en la escuela en su ambiente hogareño! 

El AMOR de DIOS es INCONDICIONAL porque Dios escribió nuestras historias, él conoce cada bache, error, fracaso, y pérdida a lo largo del camino. A pesar de conocer todos nuestros momentos débiles Dios nos ama de todos modos. No hay nada que necesitemos demostrarle a él o al nivel de perfección que necesitemos alcanzar, somos CONOCIDOS y somos amados incondicionalmente.

 

This November, we will be learning the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset. The growth mindset that we want to adopt is one of positive thoughts and ideas--- a way of seeing challenges as stepping stones, not stumbling blocks. Our Friendzy catchphrase " I Can Do It" reminds us that by being open-minded and hopeful we can accomplish many things. Our Catholic faith teaches us that God believes in us and wants us to keep trying even when we fail. We remind ourselves and each other that we learn much from our mistakes and that each time we try something hard, we grow even more.We can also support each other by using encouraging words!

Our Key Bible Verses are:

Romans 8:28: “ And we know that God causes everything to work together  for the good of those who love God.” (NLT)

Romans 12:2:  “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

We encourage you to Continue the Friendzy Conversation at home:

1. We can decide to have a growth mindset. Instead of telling ourselves “I can’t” we can say: “I can do it!”
2. We can develop and grow our growth mindset. As we take on challenges and work through struggle, we increase our growth mindset. God’s promise is that He will work all things together for good. This gives us hope, peace, and determination because of our faith, not in ourselves, but in Him! 
3. Who we are today does not define who we will be tomorrow. God gives us the power to transform. We can change, we can learn, and we can grow!

We have to look at each challenge as an opportunity to grow our minds just like we would grow our muscles during a workout. It isn’t easy and at times can be exhausting, but the more we push through the hard parts of life the more we grow! So we challenge you to challenge yourself and your child to say, “I Can Do It!”

Queridos Padres, 

Este MES /// estamos en la segunda unidad del Curriculum Friendzy! ¡El tiempo vuela cuando te estás divirtiendo! Durante este tiempo estamos enseñando a los estudiantes la frase " ¡puedo hacerlo!" Vamos a explorar las diferencias entre una parte fija y una MENTALIDAD de CRECIMIENTO y, a continuación, determinar cómo desarrollar y cultivar una mentalidad de crecimiento.

Eslogan (principal punto para que los estudiantes se acerquen):

¡Puedo Hacerlo!

Versículos llaves (puntos de anclaje Bíblicos):
Romanos 8: 28: "y sabemos que Dios hace que todo actúe juntamente para el bien de los que aman a Dios."(NLT)

Romanos 12:2 "no os conforméis a este mundo, sino transformaos mediante la renovación de vuestra mente.”

1. Podemos decidir tener una mentalidad de crecimiento. En vez de decirnos " no puedo "podemos decir:" ¡puedo hacerlo!”
2. Podemos desarrollar y hacer crecer nuestra mentalidad de crecimiento. A medida que asumimos retos y juzgar a través de la lucha, aumentamos nuestra mentalidad de crecimiento. La promesa de Dios es que él trabajará todas las cosas juntas para bien. Esto nos da esperanza, paz, y determinación a causa de nuestra fe, no en nosotros mismos, sino en Él. 
3. Lo que somos hoy no define lo que seremos mañana. Dios nos da el poder de transformar. ¡Podemos cambiar, podemos aprender y podemos crecer!

ABORDAR el CRECIMIENTO /// puede ser fácil de operar con una mentalidad fija, para nosotros y para los estudiantes. Tenemos que mirar cada desafío como una oportunidad para hacer crecer nuestras mentes al igual que crecerían nuestros músculos durante un entrenamiento. No es fácil y a veces puede ser agotador, pero cuanto más empujamos a través de las partes duras de la vida, más crecemos! Así que los retamos a desafiarse a ustedes mismos y a sus hijos a decir, " ¡yo Puedo hacerlo!”

October Catchphrase: Better Together!

We kick off our first Friendzy Unit in October. For a whole month we will be discussing the idea that we are Better Together. As a class (and as families) we can accomplish more together than any of us could alone. God designed and hardwired us to function better together, instead of alone.

Dear Parents,

Each week your student will learn God’s design for healthy relationships, and be introduced to core competencies and skills that develop self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship tools. Stronger relationships lead to stronger communities .

Research has shown that by combining SEL with academic development it improves academic performance, attitudes, relationships with peers, and reduces behavior challenges, depression, anxiety, and social isolation. This type of learning will continue to improve our campus culture, benefit your students and our communities for a lifetime. 

You will have the opportunity  to engage with your student on Friendzy topics through monthly Friendzy updates on this page.

Over the next few weeks, the goal is for every student  to begin using the unit’s Catchphrase: “Better Together” in their everyday life. You can help them by beginning to use this in your conversations at home. This is the main point that students will catch onto and remember and use over and over. 

 

Queridos Padres,

Este año continuamos equipando proactivamente a los estudiantes con habilidades para construir relaciones fuertes con un currículo de aprendizaje social y emocional basado en la Biblia (SEL) llamado Friendzy. Cada semana su estudiante aprenderá el diseño de Dios para las relaciones saludables, y será introducido en las competencias y habilidades básicas que desarrollan la conciencia de sí mismo, la autogestión, la toma de decisiones responsable, la conciencia social, y las herramientas de relación. Las relaciones más fuertes conducen a comunidades más fuertes .

La investigación ha demostrado que cuando se combina SEL con el desarrollo académico mejora el rendimiento académico, las actitudes, las relaciones con los compañeros, y reduce el comportamiento desafiante, la depresión, la ansiedad y el aislamiento social. Este tipo de aprendizaje seguirá mejorando la cultura de nuestro campus, beneficiando a sus estudiantes y a nuestras comunidades a lo largo de la vida. 

Arrancamos nuestra primera unidad Friendly. Durante todo el mes vamos a discutir la idea de que estamos Mejor Juntos. Como clase (y como familias) podemos lograr más juntos de lo que cualquiera de nosotros podría lograr por nuestra cuenta. Dios nos diseñó y dirigió para trabajar mejor juntos, en lugar de solos. El lema de este mes y los versículos claves se enumeran a continuación.

St. Joseph Catholic School is excited to announce the launch of a new school-wide program of social-emotional learning, called Friendzy.

This program will be implemented by our school counselors with the support of faculty, staff and parents!

The current global pandemic has highlighted the need for strong social skills and emotional management. Now more than ever our students need to be equipped to navigate the uncertainty in their lives with a deeper sense of faith and community. Social skills such as self-awareness, responsible decision-making, self-management and relationship-building are some of the tools that make this possible.

This new program, which begins in October, complements our current social-emotional learning curriculum which explores the ways in which our Catholic faith, faith-filled actions, and prayer help our students to develop strong social skills and deeper relationships with each other and God. As we continue to learn about Catholic virtues and saints each month we will also work on building healthy relationships, developing empathy and strengthening our school community.

As part of this program, each SJS student will receive a student workbook that will be used in class along with lessons led by our counselors. 

 

“Friendzy is a comprehensive program designed to change school culture by offering vital social emotional learning lessons (SEL) to proactively address aggressive behavior, reduce stress, equip with healthy relationship skills, and improve focus and academic performance, which will increase resiliency for success in school and in life.” Joy Roberts and Julie Widman, Friendzy founders

 

May Catchphrase: Friendship is a Gift!




















 

April Catchphrase: I Am Valuable

Dear Parents,
This month our classroom guidance counseling lessons will look at how we are chosen by God and given wonderful, unique gifts. We will talk about what an incredible gift it is that Jesus chooses us!

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last-and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. .” John 15:16 (NLT) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Continue the Conversation at Home:
1. God uniquely made you, and you are valuable. Each and every person was created in the image of God. You have value, and the unique characteristics and gifts you possess were given to you by God, on purpose, so that you can fulfill His purposes for your life.
2." I am valuable and so are you!" Our cathcphrase this month reminds us that every person is valuable and that we need to treat each other accordingly.
2. Avoid comparing yourself with others. When you compare yourself with others you either are happy because you are better than them, or sad because you are not as good. This mindset hurts friendships.
3. Each person has been given unique strengths and gifts. The strengths that God has given to you may look different than your classmates and friends. Celebrate your differences. Your differences make you a stronger team.
4. When you recognize your value, you can recognize the value of others. It’s often easier to think about the things you wish you were better at. Today, stop to consider the things that you like about yourself. The reality that Jesus chooses us to be His friend helps us with every friendship challenge we encounter. 

THE MAIN POINT
Students who know they are valuable act and respond very differently than students who do not know their value and worth. Take some time over the next few weeks to remind your students that you value them. 

CHOSE TO SHARE 
What do you value about your student? We will be talking about our value and worth as a class and we hope that you will remind your child of all the wonderful gifts you see within them and those that they are beginning to develop each day!

 

March Catchphrase: Friends Forgive



Dear Parents,

This month we will be talking about forgiveness and how forgiveness is something we practice every day in our attitudes and in our relationships with each other. We will explore how to forgive one another, and how freeing forgiveness is.Our 2nd graders were able to experience how wonderful it can feel to be forgiven when had thier First Penance just a few weeks ago. 

Our catchphrase this month is "Friends Forgive." 

Continue the Conversation at home:
1. Friends forgive first. They know that the friendship they had with the person was important. The only way it can truly be repaired is if forgiveness is extended. When we choose not to forgive we could be losing a good friend forever.
2. Forgiveness is an attitude not just an action. You can decide that instead of holding grudges you’ll learn to automatically forgive.
3. Saying “I’m sorry” first isn’t weak. It takes strength to own and take responsibility when you’ve hurt someone.
4. Be supportive. Show support to others as they are rebuilding their friendships.

As adults, the way we model the act of forgiveness teaches just as much, if not more, than our words. Having decades of experience living on the earth and dealing with relational difficulties is time enough for us to know that forgiveness is not easy.
 

February Catchphrase: Watch My Words
 

Dear Parents,

This month we are beginning the 5th unit in our Friendzy curriculum. In class we have been talking about friendship, community and caring. We are practicing active listening, teamwork and building social skills. 

The students are listening, growing and exemplifying their learning in class as well as on the playground. We hope that you are seeing positive changes at home as well. The title of this month's unit is Watch My Words.

All month we will be talking about communcation and the power of our words to life each other up and model God's love in the way we speak to and about each other.
Some of the key ideas we will be discussing are embodied in this quote from Mahatma Ghandi: “Carefully watch your thoughts, for they become your words. Manage and watch your words, for they will become your actions. Consider and judge your actions, for they have become your habits. Acknowledge and watch your habits, for they shall become your values. Understand and embrace your values, for they become your destiny.”

There are moments in our lives where we all have opened our mouth and said words we wish we could retract. By modeling to your children how to course correct when a mistake is made, you are showing them the power of how to THINK before we speak.

 

January Catchphrase: Teamwork Makes The Dream Work



‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 


In January, our counseling classes will be talking about teamwork. Our Friendzy focus for this month is "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work." We will reflect on what an incredible gift it is when we learn to work as a team and serve one another with our gifts! We are so much better together.


As a parent, the challenge you face is to have your nuclear family work together and to show love to one another and to work together towards a common goal. And the reality is that unless we first receive love FROM God, it is almost impossible to be able to love those around us, and this includes our children.

Try this at home: In family life it is easy to not notice the gifts that each member brings to the table because we are so familiar with each other and we spend so much time together. If we are not intentional, we can miss the amazing gift that each member of our family is to the team (family unit). In an effort to connect the teaching your students are learning at school and incorporate it into home life in a practical way, we suggest that one day this week you have time together as a family where each member is affirmed for the unique gifts they bring.

Take time to celebrate each other!

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 
 

December Catchphrase: You First

“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Philippians 2:2-5 (NLT)
 

This month our students are learning the importance of considering the needs of others, not just their own needs and wants. God’s Word challenges us to not be selfish. Thinking of others first is a life skill that equips us for real and long-lasting relationships. It’s not that we can’t have needs, it’s that we need to consider the needs of others as well as our own.True JOY comes from practicing “You First”

One way to continue the conversation at home this month is by posing this simple question at the dinner table over a meal: “What are some ways that we can practice not being selfish around the house?” The responses to this question can open up meaningful and honest dialogue among members of your family. What a powerful opportunity for your child to share what they are learning, put it into practice, and see the positive effect it has in your home. When students learn friendships they learn it for life, and this includes the friendship they share with each member of your family. Over the next few weeks, we hope your student will begin to use this unit’s catchphrase: “You First”. This is the main point that we want the students to catch on to and use over.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” St. Teresa of Calcutta

We will be talking about what it means to be "kind all the time" and how we can try to be a little kinder each day.

Our students will also learn about H.A.L.T. (Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired) and how it is hard to be our best selves when there is something going on physically that we need to address.


Ways to "Continue the Conversation" at home this month:
Discuss these ideas with your children:
1. A friend loves at all times. God’s Word calls us to love others all the time.
2. All means all. Loving friends when they are nice is easy. Loving friends who are annoying, or mean to you, or act differently than you is really hard.
3. Show love through your words. We show love by the words we say. Words matter and affect those around us. Choose words that reflect the love that is in your heart.
4. Show love through your actions. We’ve all heard the phrase “actions speak louder than words”. Our actions are the exclamation point to our words. Don’t just talk the talk - walk the walk!