Social-Emotional Learning, or SEL, is a foundational element of our school. SEL refers to the belief that how we manage our inner lives, such as our emotions and assumptions, together with how we manage our relationships with others, is essential to our success in school and in adulthood. The term may be new, but we believe these ideas have always defined the best schools.

In the past twenty years, a great deal of research has been conducted on what happens when students are taught social-emotional skills, such as being able to label and communicate about their emotions, practice conflict resolution, improve their focus on goals, and much more. ​​In study after study, results show that young people offered SEL become happier and less anxious. Their test scores increase. They report better social lives. They show greater connectedness to school. The list goes on. Other research shows that these benefits persist into adulthood, with lower rates of mental health disorders and strong correlations with career success. 

For all these reasons, and because we see SEL as fundamental to developing whole people, it is a core element of our school design. We integrate the five elements of SEL throughout the school: Self Awareness, Self Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making. Students will see this in Advisory, in projects, on the sports field and in outdoor expeditions. These methods are a key for our school to build a nurturing and positive community.