SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

At Rashi, we draw on nearly 6,000 years of Jewish heritage to cultivate in our students an authentic moral compass and a strong code of ethics, or derech eretz—the Hebrew term for Jewish ethical behavior. We live our values everyday at school—and they reflect the ones you teach your child at home.

One of our central goals as a school community is to create and build positive relationships with each of our students, knowing them and their individual needs deeply: where their strengths lie, being able to differentiate instruction and supports, and finding the necessary tools to help each of our students shine. We work to build positive skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making in a safe and supportive learning environment.

If you walked into a Kindergarten classroom, you might hear a teacher welcome the children: “Hi mathematicians, today we are going to solve lots of different problems,” address a challenge the class is facing, and work through an activity that addresses the challenge, with ways to practice their new skills. In Grade 5, you might see a small group meeting over lunch, deepening relationships, finding joy in each other, and learning how to navigate life’s ups and downs.

Our Middle School teachers deeply connect with their students, in ways both structured and informal. Every morning middle schoolers meet with their advisory: a teacher and a group of students from their grade. These groups establish their own identities and routines, coming together  to take a breath, have fun, and develop personal relationships. If you walked in, you might hear the songs each student brought in to reflect how they’re feeling that week or you might see a picture of an ‘awe’ moment.

We believe all children want to succeed and grow. When students are able to recognize and manage their own emotions, they are more available to learn and reach their full potential, becoming caring and responsible friends, family, and community members.