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Empathy
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ETE Sponsored Programs
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Making a Difference
Mission Statement
Our mission is to promote an
emotionally,
physically and socially safe environment for all our children.
Our Goal
Our goal is to nurture positive social development and
strengthen relationships within our school,
our families and our community through education and awareness.
Through love be servants
of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
–
Galatians 5:13-14 (RSV)
REFLECTION.
Goodwill in the soul is the source of all good things and the mother of all
virtues.
Those who possess
it hold in their hand- without fear of losing it - all that is necessary to
lead a good life.
-St. Albert the Great
PRAYER.
Heavenly Father, grant me the true spirit of goodwill toward all. Let me be
ever ready to carry
out
Your will and to come to the aid of all I encounter
on this earthy pilgrimage.
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Who:
The ETE committee consists of the guidance department, select faculty and
interested Nativity Catholic
School parents collaborating together to assure
that the ETE mission and goal are advocated. We hope
to have Nativity
Catholic School student representatives in the future.
What:
Since its conception in March 2005, with the support of our beloved Sr.
Irene St. Jean and presently
with
the support of Dr. Bernadette Kunnen, ETE
works to assist Nativity Catholic School in:
· the assessment of the schools social and emotional environment
· defining areas of strength and areas for growth
·
researching programs, tools,
speakers and community resources with emphasis given to a
comprehensive
approach. Priority is given to collaboration and communication
between
faculty, staff, parents and students
· implementation and on going evaluation of proposed programs and resources
·
creating and continually updating
the ETE web page on the Nativity Catholic School web site
as a resource for
faculty, staff, parents and students.
When/Where: The ETE committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at Nativity Catholic School.
How:
The dedicated members of the ETE committee spend many hours researching for
school programs,
speakers and
community resources. A few members of our
committee travel once a month to the
Ophelia Project of Tampa Bay
to attend
a schools consortium meeting with various private, public
and parochial
schools in Hillsborough County.
By networking at these meetings the schools
are able
to share how they strengthen their schools social and emotional
environment. The meetings also
provide information concerning upcoming
community events which coincide with our
mission
statement and goal to pass
onto our Nativity Catholic School family.
Please click
“ETE Sponsored Programs”
on the ETE homepage to view programs
currently being offered at Nativity
Catholic School.
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-
Magazines
-
Videos
-
Media
-
Links Ophelia Project www.opheliatampa.org
Mendez Foundation www.mendezfoudation.org
Second Step www.cfchildren.org
Teaching Moments www.teachingmoments.com
Owning Up www.rosalindwiseman.com
Boys Initiative www.boysinitiave.org
Parent Study Circles www.family-empower.com
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Parent Study Circle Registration
· Click here for Parent Study Registration Form
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ETE sponsored programs currently being offered at Nativity Catholic School for the 2007/2008 school year:
· SPEAKERS
DON’T MISS THIS ONE!
At the
January 14, 2008 Home and School Meeting, Norrine Russell PHD
and executive director
of The Ophelia Project of Tampa Bay has been invited to speak to parents on
how to raise compassionate
and empathetic children. Be assured of an informative and delightful evening
from someone who is very
passionate and enthusiastic about our youth.
·
SECOND STEP
for kindergarten through eighth grade students.
IS NEW THIS YEAR! Second Step
is a universal
social and
emotional learning program that teaches basic social skills such as empathy,
emotion management and problem
solving. This program is research-based. Our
kindergarten through
second grade teachers were trained at the beginning
of
the school year and are now implementing the
program in the classroom. Other
faculty will be trained throughout the year.
There is also a parent
education component to this program. For more information about Second Step
visit
www.cfchildren.com.
·
OWNING UP
for our eighth grade students. This program is now in its third year
at Nativity Catholic
School. It has also
been in the sixth and seventh
grades in previous years. Owning UP trained YMCA
staff facilitate this
program in the classroom.
Boys and girls are separated. The Owning Up
program
uses hands on activities, role play, writing and discussions to help
girls and boys understand their
relationship with each other and society in
general. The quality of these relationships is important
for healthy
psychological growth. Students educate themselves about the consequences of
power
and privilege, oppression,
personal accountability and bearing witness
when others oppress and
discriminate against those who have less power. Some
of the topics include self acceptance, cliques,
popularity, relationships,
internet safety and understanding the opposite gender.
Comments from our
Nativity Catholic School students about what they learned or liked about the
program:
“Getting to learn how my fellow classmates deal with the same issues as me.” 6th grade girl.
“Talking about stuff that I couldn’t talk about with other people.” 7th grade girl
“Talking about treating girls with respect” - 7th grade boy
“We learned how to be safe when you are at home alone.” - 6th grade girl
“The differences between boys and girls and what the think”- 7th grade girl
“What you say to other people and how it can hurt them”- 7th grade girl
“It was good we talked about being ready for High School” - 8th grade girl
“The music we listen to and what it means” - 6th grade boy
For more information about Owning Up visit www.rosalindwiseman.com.
·
PARENT STUDY CIRCLES
for our Nativity Catholic School parents. These study circles allow
parents to come together
once a month for approximately seven months to
learn and support each other
as they navigate through the challenging path
of
parenthood. Although geared for middle school parents,
all parents are
welcome to participate. A study manual is used to inform
parents about the
most
comprehensive, up to date research pertaining children’s
social/emotional lives and the world in which
they
live. The manual also
assists parents in their discussions within the study circle. Three manuals
are
available, “Understanding Kid’s
Social Lives and Bullying”, “Raising Our
Sons” and “Raising Our
Daughters”. Parent Study Circles are formed based
upon which
manual you choose.
In
the 2006-2007 school year, ETE launched seven successful circles on
“Understanding Kid’s Social
Lives and Bullying”.
This 2007-2008 school year, ETE has added “Raising Our Sons” and “Raising
Our Daughters”. Some
topics include friendships,
peer aggression, cliques,
popularity and outside influences. The parent study
circles are free and the
current cost of the manual is
50.00 dollars. Comments from fellow Nativity
Catholic School parents about the study circles:
“I
wish there were more parents in these groups hearing these issues because
there are so many parents with
“blinders on” like I used to have.”
“It’s nice to know that I am not alone with these issues facing our children.”
“These groups have given me tools that I can help my children with.”
“This study circle has opened up the lines of communication and it has also
shown my daughter
that these issues are important to me and she appreciates
it.”
For more information about Parent Study Circles visit
www.family-empower.com. To register, please
visit the ETE homepage and
click on Parent Study Circle Registration.
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In appreciation for our supporters who have assisted ETE in working towards its goal.
·
Rev. Msgr. John Cippel
wrote an addendum to the Parent Study Circle Manual,
“Understanding Kid’s
Social
Lives and Bullying”, addressing the Catholic
teaching on abstinence and homosexuality.
· Denise Graf, Artfelt Gifts designed the ETE brochure, ETE logo and ETE stationary letterhead.
·
Greater Brandon Community
Foundation has donated grant money
for the Owning Up Program
implemented
at Nativity Catholic School for the
years 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.
· The Ophelia Project of Tampa Bay has provided various educational support.
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· Mr. Ron Merrill, Guidance Councilor guidance@nativitycatholicschool.org
· Sue Thatcher, ETE Chairperson mommalubs@aol.com
· Donna Rayburn, ETE Co-Chairperson donna.rayburn@gmail.com
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the Nativity Catholic School Homepage