Tag Archives: social and emotional learning

Our school counselors: a vital guiding resource

The first full week of February is National School Counseling Week, a time to reflect on and celebrate the contributions of our school counselors.

This year’s theme is School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused, speaking to the high standard of services that HISD’s counseling teams provide all year long. The mission of the HISD Counseling and Student Services Department is to ensure that scholars develop into lifetime learners and to advocate for their academic success and social-emotional well-being.

Continue reading →

HISD PAWS program offers emotional support to students and staff

HISD offers a variety of resources to support mental health. In 2021, the HISD Police Department and Social and Emotional Learning Department joined forces to create PAWS, a program designed to provide comfort and support in crisis situations.

Continue reading →

HISD celebrates successful Nickelodeon partnership in support of early childhood education

Pre-K and elementary education are cornerstones of a child’s cognitive development. Few know that better than HISD and Nickelodeon, the producers of children’s programming and champions of early childhood education.

Continue reading →

HISD promotes bullying prevention through week-long effort, Oct. 17-21

As part of National Bullying Prevention Month, HISD’s Social & Emotional Learning Department (SEL) is recognizing Oct. 17-21 as Bullying Prevention Week to raise awareness and bring attention to the growing epidemic of bullying and social isolation. Young people who experience bullying may be pulled away from society, struggle with learning and social development, or choose to harm themselves or others.

Campuses are encouraged to participate in daily activities and encourage students and parents to join in to help prevent bullying.

Continue reading →

Thinkery rooms offer students more than just a chance to relax

Many HISD campuses are utilizing brightly decorated “Thinkery rooms” that offer a calming period to reduce anxiety and allow students to create their unique plan of action utilizing the various areas in the room.

The Thinkery rooms are a product of a Social Emotional Learning initiative to be more proactive with mental health. HISD currently has 40 campuses with Thinkery rooms. According to Executive Director, Counseling and Compliance Glenda Calloway, the SEL department is developing a mobile Thinkery room to launch in late spring.  The rooms usually have a theme painted on the walls, comfortable furniture, and plenty of activities to keep students busy.

Continue reading →

Superintendent outlines district’s direction for 2017-18 school year

Social and emotional learning, restorative discipline, and expanding wraparound services to be top priorities

The start of the 2017-2018 school year is over two months away, but HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza is outlining some of the district’s top priorities for the coming year.

Carranza recently addressed over 1,500 school and district leaders at the HISD 2017 Professional Learning Series, a two-day training series that traditionally has launched the direction of the district for the coming academic year.

Continue reading →