SEL has returned to Chester High School! SEL, or Social Emotional Learning, is a process where youth and young adults learn how to deal with certain emotional challenges, as well as how to improve their social lives and kindness towards others.
At Chester High School, students engage in SEL lessons with their teachers every other Monday during their 5th hour RTI class. It typically involves a start to the lesson, introducing that week’s topic, what students will learn, a game or exercise to engage them in the lesson, and ending with a brief summary of the lesson, including a challenge for the week. Some of the challenge examples include introducing yourself to someone new or inviting someone who sits alone at lunch to join your table. All challenges are created to promote kindness and unity in our school, along with our community.
As a senior student at Chester High School, this is my third year doing SEL learning. Even though some days I would rather work on homework or my music pieces, I find myself truly enjoying the lessons whenever I pay attention. SEL is important to teach because of the hatred present in the world today. Teaching teens from the start of high school the basics of empathy and kindness, even though some think it’s “boring and unnecessary”, can connect just barely to each student, even if they don’t realize it. The purpose of SEL is to help create a better school environment.
When asking another student how she feels about SEL in school, Elizabeth Wilson said, “I think it’s important and that students can learn a lot from it. I just don’t think enough students take it seriously. I know that I have personally seen our instructor, Mr. Colonel, in a different light because it also allows him to open up as well. It made me see my teacher and peers as real people. So I do think it’s very important.”
Interviewing someone who knows firsthand how the mind works and how to help it can support the importance of our SEL lessons. When asked about SEL at Chester High School, Social Worker, Ms.Vahling said, “Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) should be taught because it helps you understand yourself, your emotions, and how to navigate real-life situations. It’s about building better relationships, communicating clearly, and making choices that actually reflect who you are. In a world where life moves fast and mental health is a real challenge, SEL gives you the tools to slow down, check in with yourself, and grow not just in school, but in life.”
With SEL in full swing, it’s important to remind yourself what you can learn from these teachings. If every student learns just a little from SEL, we would start to see a difference in our school community. The benefits of this could be amazing! Those who dread coming to school could start to enjoy it more, and those who really take to the SEL challenges could make new friends. In total, our school would be a more welcoming and better place for future students to come. This is why SEL is not only important but impactful.