Social & Emotional Learning

Every child is known by every adult at Cold Spring. We care about the social/emotional development in children as much as we care about academic learning.

The smallness of our school provides us with multiple opportunities to build community in genuine ways in both classrooms and at school as a whole. Respect, gratitude, compassion, empathy, and resilience form the core of the social/emotional curriculum. Classroom charters provide the opportunity for children to practice the language and skills required to be responsible and positive community members. Both “window and mirror” opportunities are offered for children to see themselves reflected in their work and to learn about and appreciate differences in people and their lives within and beyond our school walls.

In order for every person in our community to build a full sense of belonging for themselves and others, we have a Code of Conduct & Character (see below) that we expect every member of our community to understand and uphold. These are the roots and values of our SEL program on which our entire behavior support system and SEL curriculum are built.

In This Section

Code of Conduct & Character

Respect & Care

Respect and Care for Self and Others:

Treat everyone (including yourself) with kindness, empathy, and consideration.
Respect personal boundaries and differences in opinions, backgrounds, and abilities.
Use positive language to build each other up.
Take action to help others.
Take the necessary steps to care for yourself throughout each school day.
Share with others.
Listen with the intent to understand, not always to respond. Give others the feeling of being heard.

Behavior & Decision-Making

Responsible Behavior & Decision-Making

Take ownership of and responsibility for your actions, decisions, and their consequences.
Follow classroom rules and school policies to ensure a safe and productive learning environment.
Be punctual and prepared for all classes and activities.
Be honest with yourself and others.
Make decisions consciously. Reflect on decisions made.

Safety & Well-Being

Prioritize the safety and well-being of yourself and others at all times.
Demonstrate understanding that within a community, we sometimes have to function as a collective and prioritize group functionality over individual desires.
Report any concerns about safety, bullying, harassment, or discrimination to a trusted adult.
Include all community members equally, especially across lines of difference (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender identity, learning differences, culture, emotional expression, approach to relationships, religion, political beliefs), asking questions instead of making assumptions, and respecting everyone's preferences regarding how much of their identity they choose to share.
Commit to creating an emotionally safe environment that invites all community members to express their full identity and authentic self each day.

Conflict Resolution

Resolve conflicts peacefully and respectfully. Rely on your words, not your body.
Seek assistance from teachers or staff when help is needed to resolve conflicts.
Listen actively and communicate openly to find solutions that are fair to all parties involved.
Be calm first, before engaging in conflict resolution.
Take turns speaking. Take space and make space.

Academic Integrity & Humility

Uphold honesty and integrity in all academic work.
Give proper credit for others' ideas and work through citations and acknowledgments.
Avoid engaging in academic dishonesty (e.g., copying work).
Demonstrate humility and awareness about your own learning.
Find inspiration in and support the learning of others.
Celebrate learning in a way that encourages and motivates others.
Share your ideas generously.
Be thankful for the perpetual opportunity to learn and collaborate in a caring community.
Ask for help when needed.

Respect for Property

Digital Citizenship

Use technology responsibly and in accordance with school guidelines.
Respect others' privacy and confidentiality when communicating online.
Report any incidents of cyberbullying or inappropriate online behavior to a teacher or staff member.
Understand that digital citizenship includes digital engagement outside of school and that these interactions have an impact on relationships and daily life at school.

Community Engagement

Perspective-Taking

Perspective-Taking

Be willing to learn the skill of perspective-taking, the act of considering the perspectives and experiences of others.
Create equal space for each perspective within the community.
Understand that your perspective is your own, not decided by the ideas of others, just as the perspectives of others are also their own.
- Example: When one community member causes harm to another community member, the outcome/resulting perspective must be acknowledged and repaired, regardless of the intent.

CSS is part of my life now through songs I sing to my son, respect for others, confidence to pursue my interests and passions as well as those things that are challenging to me.

julia, CLASS OF ’93