SEL @ Lincoln

Social-emotional learning (SEL) plays an important role in the development of students, helping them acquire essential skills for managing emotions, building healthy relationships, and making responsible decisions. If we build social emotional competency in our students and ensure that every student has a sense of belonging, then students will have a solid foundation to be successful in their academic pursuits and thrive as Lincoln Citizens.  Here are some key points highlighting the importance of SEL:

 **Enhanced Emotional Awareness**: SEL helps individuals understand and manage their emotions. This awareness can lead to better self-regulation and the ability to cope with stress and challenges.

 **Increased Academic Performance**: Research indicates that students with strong social-emotional skills tend to perform better academically. SEL creates an environment that enhances focus, engagement, and motivation, all of which contribute to better learning outcomes.

**Community Engagement**: SEL fosters a sense of community and belonging, encouraging individuals to take an active role in their communities and contribute positively to society.

Lincoln partners with students, parents, staff, and outside organizations to meet the social emotional needs of our students

• Community building units and activities are built into the Lincoln Circles Curriculum facilitated by all MESSS teachers. Community building units include What’s in a Name, Diversity, Community Norms, and We are Lincoln. Throughout the entire curriculum all lessons include community check-ins and activities that highlight student connections.
  
  
• Lincoln Crew Cohorts are led by teacher leaders, social workers, and counselors. Leaders facilitate community building activities and push-in lessons that highlight a sense of belonging in our 6 specialized programs and our Outward Bound program for zoned students.

Push-in lessons include Hopes and Fears circle, Collaboration Challenge, and Everybody has a Somebody. Community building activities include Attendance Breakfast, Honor Roll Celebration, Field Day and March Madness. 

• Lincoln Crew classes for our zoned 9^th graders include units on community, identity, and service as well as daily check-ins.
  
  
• Lincoln Student Organization and Student Government lead events that celebrate our students and our diversity throughout the year. Some of the events included: Welcome Ramadan, because it is Black History Month, and Spring Break Student Celebration.
  
  
• Lincoln offers a wide array of clubs, sports, and electives facilitating student connections and SEL competencies.

Increased Social Emotional Learning and support has been a key factor in increasing our graduation rate, attendance rate, and credit accumulation.  This year we expect increased graduation rate, increased credit accumulation, and increased attendance, as well as a decrease in disciplinary incidents.  We expect continued gains in qualitative data, including survey data and enrollment data.