Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is integral to the social, emotional and academic wellbeing of a student. Schools provide a safe and secure environment for students to develop their social and emotional awareness, along with skills and strategies to ensure social and emotional wellbeing. SEL can also engage students in understanding what constitutes respectful relationships and how to achieve respectful relationships, both within oneself and with peers and the wider community.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is explicitly taught at RPPS and is part of the weekly schedule in every classroom.
As well as teaching academic skills, it is part of the core business of schools to promote student resilience, wellbeing and positive social attitudes. SEL is the process through which children and young people build and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to:
- Understand and manage emotions
- Set and achieve positive goals
- Feel and express empathy
- Establish and maintain positive relationships
- Make responsible decisions
- Develop resilience to deal with change
- Create positive gender norms
- Contribute to social cohesion.
Social and emotional skills help students develop the resilience to deal with change, challenge and unpredictability.
RESILIENCE, RIGHTS & RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS
MEET MURPHY – THERAPY DOG PROGRAM
Our trained Therapy Dog Murphy is an important part of our wellbeing and engagement approach at Rowellyn Park PS. In 2024, we have one qualified therapy dog, Murphy in our school. Mrs Karen White is Murphy’s handler and together they form an integral part of the wellbeing and inclusion program at our school community.
Research shows that therapy dog programs provide significant benefits for students as the dogs are trained to use their social instincts and learned social skills to provide health, social-emotional and cognitive benefits. Being in contact with a therapy dog calms children, reducing feelings of anxiety and stress and promoting a sense of belonging in school. Our Therapy Dog will also provide social-emotional support to staff and the wider school community, when and where appropriate.
