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
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.