Social-Emotional Learning - The McGillis School | K-8 private school in Salt Lake

We spend a lot of time teaching social-emotional skills and talking about how to manage emotions and resolve conflicts.

Our teachers regularly facilitate circle discussions to give students a voice, talk through issues that may be happening, and to build their classroom communities. Last year, we implemented a program called Toolbox which has been an amazing resource for our entire community - students, teachers and parents. It teaches 12 tools that we all have inside of us, all the time; it’s just a matter of learning how and when to use them to help us navigate different situations and feelings.

Learn more from our School Psychologist on what social-emotional learning means at McGillis.

Sarah Davies

School Psychologist

Kelsey Hutten

Lower School Counselor

Community Conversations: Building Resilience

Psychologists define resilience as the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress.

Community Conversations: Social Emotional Learning

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

Teaching Students to Follow Their Hearts to Do What They Know is Right

Courage is having the inner strength and bravery to do the “right thing” even when it is difficult.

Building Positive Connections with "Please" and "Thank You"

“Please” and “thank you” are magic words that help people feel good. Expressing gratitude and giving thanks are basic principles of kindness and generosity.

Learning to Listen with Your Heart

Listening to one another is one of the most important ways parents and children create close, loving relationships.