Early childhood through fourth grade students learn social emotional skills

Mrs. Klotzbach's 3rd Graders made cards for residents of local nursing homes.

Each school year, early childhood through fourth grade students in the Decorah School District are taught social and emotional skills as part of their curriculum.

Their current learning focuses on empathy.  Students are learning the importance of helping and caring for others.  To support their learning and extend it beyond the school walls, students have been spreading joy throughout the community this holiday season.  John Cline students planned a Food Drive for the Northeast Iowa Food Pantry.  West Side students collected over $200 through their Coins for Cats (and Dogs!) Coin Drive, and students at Carrie Lee, John Cline, and West Side created holiday cards and decorations for local nursing homes.  

In addition, John Cline and West Side families recently participated in a Joy to the World Family Engagement Project.  Since teachers and staff are not able to get together with families in person right now for family events and other activities, they are trying to connect in other ways, including with Make and Take Kits.  The Joy to the World kit provided families with a variety of materials to spread joy in the community, including supplies for homemade bird feeders, ornament making materials (one to make and one to give), and supplies to make holiday cards for someone they love. 

Students made ornaments (one to keep and one to give away) with supplies from their Joy to the World Make and Take Kits.

John Cline students collected food and other supplies for the Northeast Iowa Food Pantry.