News from District 153
October 1, 2026
A Message from the Superintendent
On September 30, we hosted a Staff Institute Day. While the students were off, our teachers and staff were working together to plan to meet the needs of all students. Every group of staff members received professional development that was focused on their specific work. Then, they spent time planning together to based on what they learned. Professional development days like these allow our teachers and staff to be at their best for our students.
We believe in serving the whole child by nurturing students’ Intellectual Growth, Creative Expression, Social and Emotional Well-being, and Physical and Mental Health. This year, we would like to share some of the ways we work toward this mission in all our schools.
How does HSD153 support Social and Emotional Well-being?
Our district is committed to helping all develop the social and emotional skills that will support them throughout their lives. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is built into what we do at all our schools. We use a Social Emotional Learning curriculum that helps us to ensure that all students learn the skills they need at every grade level. This year, all schools began using a program called CharacterStrong.
At Willow and Churchill, the focus of the program is “Be Kind. Be Well. Be Strong”.
At James Hart, we focus on “Well-Being, Belonging, and Engagement”.
Character traits such as Respect, Responsibility, Empathy, Honesty, and Perseverance are key at every grade level. We also teach our students about things like conflict resolution, personal safety, digital citizenship, and bullying prevention. Every child’s well-being is critically important to us.
In addition to providing SEL lessons for all students, we provide additional support for students when they need it. In addition to our amazing teachers and staff, we have support staff members whose work is focused specifically on supporting students’ social emotional needs. This includes our outstanding school social workers and counselors who work tirelessly to meet our students’ needs.
As the year goes on, please be on the lookout for parent newsletters and updates about SEL. Your partnership is what allows us support the needs of all students.
Save the Date!
Churchill School’s Hispanic Heritage Night will take place on Thursday, October 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM! Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with fun for the family. We hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Dr. Teresa Hill
Superintendent of Schools
All children can learn . . . Period.
