At Junior Academy, one of our core teaching philosophies is to put the Social and Emotional development of our students at the forefront of their educational journey. Supporting Social and Emotional Learning is essential as it nurtures the whole child, balancing academic achievement with emotional and social growth. Our SEL program is designed to teach students essential skills in managing emotions, building positive relationships, making responsible decisions, and developing social awareness.
All of our teachers receive specialized training in order to integrate SEL programming into the school’s curriculum and daily routines which is aimed to support students’ development, enhance the learning environment, and promote both academic and personal success. Professional development workshops equip our educators with strategies to foster a supportive classroom climate, utilize best practices for classroom management, and address students’ social-emotional needs. Teachers are also taught how to model emotional regulation and conflict resolution in their interactions with students.
The Junior Academy SEL program covers five core competencies:
Self-awareness: Helping students recognize their emotions, strengths, and areas for growth.
Self-management: Teaching techniques for managing stress, setting goals, and maintaining focus.
Social awareness: Encouraging empathy and understanding of different perspectives and backgrounds.
Relationship skills: Developing communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution abilities.
Responsible decision-making: Guiding students to make ethical and constructive choices.
Morning meetings and check-ins: Teachers start the day with a check-in or morning meeting to create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. These sessions allow students to express how they are feeling and set a positive tone for the day.
Mindfulness and emotional regulation practices: Our SEL program includes mindfulness exercises, breathing techniques, and relaxation strategies that students can use to regulate their emotions throughout the school day.
Weekly FLEX classes (Friendships and Social Skills, Learning Skills & Executive Functioning): FLEX is a weekly class for students in grades 1 through 8, conducted in their homeroom classrooms. Our FLEX program aims to teach essential skills such as initiating play, navigating changes in social settings, conversation skills, how to win/lose games, and flexible thinking.
Positive behaviour support systems: Our SEL program often ties into school-wide positive behaviour interventions, creating consistent expectations for how students should treat one another and behave in the school community. Reward systems, peer mentoring, and restorative approaches are used to reinforce positive social behaviour.
Safe spaces: Our school and teachers create safe, quiet areas for students to practice emotional regulation if they are feeling overwhelmed or stressed, such as “calm-down corners” as well as wellness/sensory rooms.
