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Infant Jesus of Prague teachers focusing on SEL, Catholic identity training


 

Catholic educators are known for instilling strong values in their students. Now the staff at Infant Jesus of Prague School in Flossmoor is taking extra steps to strengthen that mission through pilot programs being developed by the Archdiocese of Chicago and DePaul University.

Sr. Mary Paul, former principal at Marian Catholic High School, is coaching teachers at IJP in a social-emotional learning (SEL) program that allows them to do self-reflection and examine interactions with others. IJP is also working on a second training track for Catholic identity.

Nyla Williams, a fifth grader at Infant Jesus of Prague School, tells her class about the efforts of Rosa Parks to end racial segregation. (Provided photo)

Yesenia Maldonado, director of social-emotional learning (SEL) in the Office of Catholic Schools, has described the self-reflection program as: how we feel, how we deal and how we relate. 

Infant Jesus of Prague is one of five schools in the archdiocese pilot program. The staff selected the curriculum and started incorporating what they learned into IJP this school year for students attending school and those learning remotely.

Principal Charlotte Kelly said the program offers ways “that we can build great relationships with kids so that they feel safe, so that they feel loved, in the hopes that they will learn better.” She said social-emotional learning is especially emphasized now because remote learners may not feel connected.

“We want to teach those kids that they are important and they do have connections with people,” Kelly said.

Betana Haddon is an astronaut for a day as she tells the class about the strides of Mae Jemison who became the first African American woman astronaut. Betana is a fourth grader at Infant Jesus of Prague School. (Provided photo)

The archdiocesean program incorporates five principles — self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making and relationship skills — developed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

“The good news really for us is we can totally relate everything we’re doing with our Catholic beliefs and Christian beliefs. It’s a great connection for us to use everything that’s in (the CASEL guidelines) that’s about making connections. We put the Catholic/Christian versions onto that,” Kelly said. 

Infant Jesus of Prague School will be using this badge as part of its Catholic Identity program. (Provided image)

The social-emotional program isn’t just for religion class, it’s incorporated into every phase of learning at IJP “just like our Catholic values are. Being able to create a culture in our school of acceptance and empathy and all those things that are important to us, it goes across the board.”

All staff at IJP are part of the training program.

DePaul University worked with IJP teachers in 2020 to help them earn the archdiocesean innovative teaching micro-credential through various workshops. DePaul is helping IJP with two micro-credentials now – the SEL curriculum and a Catholic Identity program with a theme this year of justice.

Third grader Sarah Lawal portrays Mother Theresa of Calcutta during a program on great leaders who worked for justice. (Provided photo)

Kelly said students are learning about Catholics and others who have set out excellent examples of relating to people and caring for them because it’s “so important helping kids understand what’s going on in the world right now.”

The students have been focusing on social justice heroes and making presentations about their lives. The program includes Bible verses and works from Pope Francis. Kelly said the Catholic Identity micro-credential work will continue into the 2021-22 school year.


Correction: Yesenia Maldonado’s name was misspelled in the first version of this story. The Chronicle apologizes for the error.

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