SEDL in Action - Niagara County
Approaches:
- Outreach to and engagement of families and community
- Attention to school - classroom environment and relationships
- Skill acquisition through sequenced social - emotional learning opportunities and standards-based instruction
- After school, out-of-school, extra curricular and service learning and mentoring
- Alignment of district and school personnel, policies, and practices to support students
- Collaboration between school district and community-based service providers
- Staff development for administrative, instructional, student support staff and willing partners
1. Outreach to and engagement of families and community
There are no programs listed for this approach.
2. Attention to school environment and student-adult relationships
There are no programs listed for this approach.
3. Skill acquisition through sequenced social - emotional learning opportunities and standards-based instruction
ART 4 ME
This class conducted within the YWCA of Niagara Advantage After School Program provides students the
opportunity to use art as a tool to identify and express emotions. The workshops, guided by an Art
Therapist, give students a safe place to address, share and learn about issues that confront middle
school students. Topics of discussion are often self directed and have included depression, suicide,
divorce and peer pressure. The student’s comfort level is paramount and levels of participation are
completely voluntary. One of the students’ favorite sessions is the project Roadway Map to Life, a selfexploratory
activity designed to encourage students to think about their future. An obvious indicator of the
Art 4 Me Program’s success is student engagement and its popularity (represented by an ongoing waiting
list) suggests that parents believe the program makes a difference in the students’ lives.
4. After school, out-of-school, extra curricular and service learning and mentoring
After School Fitness & Nutrition Program
The YWCA of Niagara Advantage After School Program implemented a comprehensive nutrition and
fitness program that complements the Lockport and Newfane School Districts’ school based health and
wellness initiatives. Through a variety of interactive activities including Jeopardy, Food Pyramid Kickball
and Muscle Relay students engaged in active learning to understand the link between physical fitness,
nutrition and health. A hands-on cooking club allowed students to explore menu and meal preparation
while exposing them to a variety of healthy food options as an alternative to junk foods. The program was
a huge success not only did students increase their nutritional knowledge, they published a cookbook,
implemented new fitness programs and continued the cooking club beyond the duration of the program.
5. Alignment of district and school personnel, policies, and practices to support students
There are no programs listed for this approach.
6. Collaboration between school district and community-based service providers
There are no programs listed for this approach.
7. Staff development for administrative, instructional, student support staff and willing partners.
There are no programs listed for this approach.