Social-Emotional Learning Part Two: Ardsley Middle School

Ardsley Middle School offers a robust Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program that spans all four years, providing students with essential skills for personal and social development. School counselors build rapport with each grade level through consistent support, following students from fifth through eighth grade. This approach allows school counselors to build strong student relationships, fostering open communication and growth.

Fifth and Sixth Grade

Fifth and sixth graders participate in dedicated guidance classes every other day for one quarter each year, covering foundational SEL topics. These classes, which are uncommon in public middle schools, are incorporated into the school’s "specials" curriculum and include 25 lessons, enabling both grade-level counselors to reach over 400 students over the course of the year. School counselor Tom Caldara emphasizes the importance of time spent together: "By teaching SEL topics in guidance classes, we gain a closer understanding of where students are socially and emotionally.”

Each grade level receives tailored lessons covering topics ranging from self-esteem, friendship, bullying, and coping skills to conflict resolution and decision-making. “We work closely together as a team and with the school psychologists to develop sessions that meet the needs of the students,” School counselor Julianne Nicolette mentioned. 

Seventh and Eighth Grade

As students progress to seventh grade, counselor Lisa Zimbaldi teaches a key session about the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), highlighting perspective-taking and becoming upstanders by speaking up when situations like bullying and meanness arise. In eighth grade, counselor Ann Marie Winslow focuses her sessions on empathy. She invites students to think about real-life situations that may elicit an emotional response so they can learn how to be there for others who may be going through a challenging time. Student Assistance Counselor Allison Mastrogiacomo, pushes into health classes to discuss significant issues like family dynamics, peer pressure, vaping, alcohol, addiction in the family and stress for seventh graders using activities such as charades to make discussions engaging.

Transitions

The program focuses on smooth transitions between school levels. Fifth graders mentor fourth graders through an ambassador program, visiting their classrooms to discuss Middle School and answer questions. A pen pal initiative was piloted last year, connecting middle school students with two fourth-grade classrooms, with plans to expand to all fourth grades this year. Additionally, eighth graders engage in small group Advisory sessions with Student Assistance counselor Allison Mastrogiacomo to prepare for high school, which includes visits from high school students and discussions on decision-making.

Collaboration with Faculty

Teachers collaborate closely with counselors to monitor student well-being through pulse checks, and adjustments are made for those needing additional support. Ms. Stephany Olivieri (Social Studies) and Ms.Helen Berni (ELA) weave SEL practices into their curriculum. Additionally, Ms. Olivieri leads the afterschool Mindfulness and Yoga Club. She is working on updating the Mindfulness Nook donated by the PTSA and providing a mindfulness website with resources for all students.

Random Acts of Kindness

A standout, school-wide initiative is Random Acts of Kindness Week in February, coordinated by counselor Lisa Zimbaldi. Students participate in various activities designed to demonstrate how small gestures can create a significant impact, such as writing thank-you letters to first responders and holding doors for others.

An Ongoing Commitment

The Ardsley School District has prioritized SEL by expanding the middle school counseling team in the fall of 2023, adding a fourth counselor to enable individualized attention for each grade. A new SEL subcommittee under the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) aims to further integrate SEL practices into academic curricula.

Ardsley Middle School’s SEL program represents an ongoing commitment to student’s social and emotional development, providing essential skills that will benefit them throughout their academic and personal lives.