Dear K-5 Schenectady Families,

We want your child to be successful in school and that means supporting and encouraging their whole child development. While excelling in academics is important, children also need skills to take on learning challenges, make good decisions, recognize and manage emotions, and get along with others. 

As you know, we are using the Second Step program in your child’s class. The Second Step program teaches children important skills for getting along with others and doing well in school. It also helps our school be a safe and supportive place where everyone can learn. Your children have been learning about growth mindset & goal setting, with more to come about emotion management, as well as empathy & kindness. 

October is Bullying Prevention month, and we would be remiss if we did not mention that we will soon begin our units on Bullying Prevention from Second-Step. Your child will learn how to recognize, report, and refuse bullying. If you would like to find out more about bullying prevention please find resources from Second-Step here: https://www.cfchildren.org/resources/bullying-prevention-resources/

Throughout the school year, we will be working towards making our schools even more safe and supportive, by fulfilling our obligations under Erin’s Law through the use of Second-Step’s Child Protective curriculum. Erin’s Law is intended to help your child learn the skills to help him or her stay safe from dangerous or abusive situations. You can find more about Erin’s Law here: http://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/erins-law and you can find out more about talking to your children about keeping safe from abusive situations here: https://www.earlyopenoften.org/

Please feel free to reach out to your child’s principal if you have any questions or concerns.