Social & Emotional Learning Night — February 22, 2024

Posted February 8, 2024

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McKinley-Thatcher families are cordially invited to our 5th annual Social & Emotional Learning Night on Thursday, February 22 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm!

What Is Social & Emotional Learning?

Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) is the development of self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for success in school, work, and life. Our Social & Emotional Learning Night is focused on SEL specifically for parents and caregivers, with the goal of helping our families learn about a variety of important topics to best support their children at home and at school.

5th Annual Social & Emotional Learning Night

  • Who: all McKinley-Thatcher parents, guardians, & caregivers and their McKinley students.
  • What: a night of learning for adults on a wide variety of SEL-related topics (see below!).
  • When: Thursday, February 22, 2024; 4:30pm-6:30pm
    • 4:30pm-5:00pm — FREE pizza dinner for families!
    • 5:00pm-6:30pm — FREE childcare for McKinley students!
    • 5:00pm-5:40pm — Learning Session 1 for adults
    • 5:45pm-6:30pm — Learning Session 2 for adults
  • Where: McKinley cafeteria & classroom spaces
  • Why: to help families learn about important topics related to parenting.
  • How: come at 4:30pm to enjoy pizza & salad with your kids, then check your McKinley students in for free childcare provided by our school staff. Adults then choose two learning sessions to attend from our list (see below!). Each learning session is 40 minutes long.

SEL Night Learning Sessions

  • Raising Media-Smart Kids: Tips on Managing Family Media Use & Internet Safety” presented by Brian Dino (he/him), DPS Educational Technology Team
  • Mindful Parenting Through Self-Regulation” presented by Monica Padilla, DPS Trauma-Informed and Restorative Practices Team
  • Beyond the Birds and Bees: Talking to Your Kids about Their Bodies, Relationships, and Safety” presented by Molly Alderton (she/her), DPS Comprehensive Health Team
  • Managing Distress & Escalating Behaviors in the Home” presented by Sonia Geerdes (she/her), McT Principal
  • QPR: How to Question, Persuade and Refer: Supporting Others Having Suicidal Thoughts” presented by Allison Gleichman, DPS School Counselor & McT Parent
  • For Women: Dealing with Stress in Healthy Ways” presented by Anna Kluver-Fensler, Lemonade Living Wellness Coaching
  • Helping Children Help Themselves: Building Self-Regulation Skills” presented by Jen Bruner, McT School Psychologist
  • Supporting LGBTQIA+ Students” presented by Alex Clark, McT School Counselor
  • How Play Supports Social and Emotional Growth” presented by Lauren Lee Garcia (LG), McT Drama Teacher 

An RSVP Is REQUIRED for SEL Night!

Please help us get an accurate attendance count for dinner and childcare needs by filling out our Social & Emotional Learning Night RSVP form hereRSVPs are due by Monday, February 19. We may close our RSVP form early if we reach our maximum capacity for childcare!

Request Interpretation for Our SEL Night Learning Sessions!

We are happy to provide interpretation services to our multilingual families! Families can request interpretation by filling out our Social & Emotional Learning Night RSVP form or by contacting Ms. Ingrid Hoff (she/her), on ClassDojo, by phone at (720) 424-5605, or by email to Ingrid_Hoff@dpsk12.net.

Have Questions or Need More Information?

Call our main office at (720) 424-5600, email us at McKinley_Thatcher@dpsk12.org, or stop by our main office during school hours!