West Elementary School

Social Emotional Learning - School Family Program

Our School Family Program received the 2002 Promising Practices Award from the Character Education Partnership.     

Visit their website at http://www.character.org

 

West School's award winning School Family Program offers our students the unique opportunity to learn more about themselves and their fellow schoolmates.

Who Participates? 

Every student at West becomes a member of a "Family".

Who are the Family Leaders?

Family leaders are the Teachers and Teaching Assistants who are part of our West School Staff.  Students remain with their Family leader throughout their years at West School.

Who is in the Family group?

The Family Group consists of 8-10 students.  There is at least one student from each grade level in a family group.

When do School Family meetings occur?

Meetings are held on Wednesday mornings for approximately 30 minutes.

What happens during these meetings?

During Family Meeting Time, students participate in discussions and activities related to character education themes.

How do the students know it is School Family Time?

When students enter the building in the morning, they will hear the song, "We Are Family." This indicates that it is School Family day. After breakfast, Fifth grade students are called to "pick up" their kindergarten siblings and bring them to their Family Meeting place.  The same is done with fourth graders and first graders. Third grade students "escort" their second grade sibling to their Meeting place. After our School Family Meeting time, students are brought back to their regular classrooms by their upper grade sibling.