SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
EDUCATIONAL EQUITY

The faculty and staff at Wilbur McMahon School are committed to being your partners in your child's education, and  whole-community participation is crucial when it comes to the social, emotional, academic, and intercultural development of all children.  It really does take a village to support all children in becoming their best and highest selves.

For example, at Wilbur McMahon School (WMS), healthy relationships, celebrating one's uniqueness and that of others, and bullying prevention are a priority year-round with a variety of programs. This starts in the classroom with Open Circle, a Social Emotional Learning/Educational Equity (SELEE) curriculum for grades kindergarten through 5.  Open Circle is incorporated into the curriculum during weekly extended homerooms. WMS' specialists, special educators, co-curricular teachers, and Teaching Assistants have also completed training and are paired with homeroom teachers to support and be a part of  Open Circle   -- making it truly school wide in grades K-5.  In grades 6, 7 and 8, WMS has implemented Choose Love, which teaches students to manage their emotions, set goals, show empathy and make responsible decisions.   Choose Love  is part of the curriculum two times per week and is run by WMS' Counselor/Social Worker.

Since the spring of 2020, all middle school teachers and specialists completed and/or began Tier I training in implementing the International Baccalaureate' Middle Years Program (IB MYP), which turns our curriculum upside down -- in a good way.  From Ibo.org: "IB MYP aims to develop active learners and internationally minded young people who can empathize with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning. The program empowers students to inquire into a wide range of issues and ideas of significance locally, nationally and globally. The result is young people who are creative, critical and reflective thinkers."    

All staff (Certified Staff, Teacher Assistants, Administration) completed a minimum of 10 hours of PD leading to earn a Basic Restorative Tools Certificate, which includes content focused on cultural sensitivity. (https://yrpofri.org/). That training continues with all new hires.

None of us can do this work alone. Accordingly, the Little Compton School Department is partnering with the local public library on an Intercultural Development Community Book Club for adults. Ta-Nehisi Coates' book Between the World and Me (LCSD purchased multiple loaner copies) is the group's first read. Other intercultural works being considered for future book discussions are Once A Girl, Always a Boy (co-authors led book discussion), and Being Heumann (author led book discussion).  They are deep reads and spark thoughtful discussions around issues of identity, race, religion, and being differently-abled.    

The Little Compton School Department is committed to being partners in all facets of a child's education. The critical work around empathy, diversity, and cultural sensitivity is ongoing and integrated across content areas and grades for whole-school progression.  The Little Compton School Department is committed to a safe and healthy learning environment and a dynamic, responsive, impactful curriculum.