SEL Overview

A focus on affective and social growth has been part of the Nueva School’s values from its founding and remains a key part of the mission statement: “Our school community inspires passion for lifelong learning, fosters social and emotional acuity, and develops the imaginative mind.”

Before concepts such as “conflict resolution,” “social and emotional learning,” or “character education,” became commonplace in elementary educational settings, the Nueva school’s founders recognized the critical role of affective education in the development of the whole child, and devoted program resources to social and emotional skills as well as academic learning.

SEL creates an intentional focus to develop compassionate leaders who understand and use:

• Listening and communication skills
• Self-awareness and reflection
• Empathy and the ability to see multiple perspectives
• Collaboration

Background to Social and Emotional Learning at the Nueva School

The Nueva School, a PreK-8th progressive school for the gifted and talented, emphasizes the school's mission to promote “social-emotional acuity” through our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program. Research shows that gifted children have special issues: perfectionism, fear of failure, and heightened sensitivity to social issues.  The SEL program promotes emotional intelligence through a skills-based, integrated, and collaborative approach that stresses the core values of empathy, responsibility, cooperation, and respect.  SEL also has a community-wide reach for children, faculty, and parents that infuses curriculum, activities, and communication - from the classroom, to the playground, to the "Forts" where students use natural and found materials (rocks, sticks and leaves) to build imaginative structures and play worlds.  With a strong social-emotional learning foundation, utilizing creative and innovative methods that incorporate the best practices, Nueva prepares students to harness their special capabilities in math, sciences, humanities, and the arts, to better the world for future generations.

In the course of study at Nueva, we expect students to demonstrate self-awareness, empathy, effective communication, strong interpersonal skills, leadership, goal-setting, perseverance, optimism, trust, and involvement in the greater community.  Since everyone is a learner at Nueva, students and adults are encouraged to always challenge themselves, take risks, and make mistakes.  Another major outcome goal of SEL is that students internalize skills and concepts, particularly the self-motivation to initiate discussions and conflict resolution, make positive choices, and care about others. Through this broad-based approach, students practice SEL skills without extrinsic motivations such as grades or rewards. Students and adults work collaboratively to create a vibrant and safe learning environment in which all members of the community are empowered to take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, and actions in a proactive and intentional manner.