Back to School SEL Newsletter

School is back and it’s important to check in with your child regarding their feelings. “How was your day?” often gets a minimal response. Try one of the questions below to initiate a meaningful conversation.

• What was your high and low point of the first week of school?
• Who talked to you?
• What’s something that made you laugh?
• Are you excited to go back tomorrow?
• What would you change about today?

Did you know that your SEL Team delivers counseling across 3 tiers?

• Tier 1: Classroom Lessons (all students)
• Tier 2: Small Groups (some students)
• Tier 3: Individual Sessions (some students)

All students receive class lessons covering social skills and character education topics. You will be receiving more information about small counseling groups, including an opt-out form, in the next few weeks. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Does your child know how to recognize their strong emotions and self-regulate to calm down?

Self-Regulation is the ability to understand and manage your behavior and reactions. Self-regulation helps children learn, behave well, get along with others and become independent.

There are many different self-regulation techniques. Pick a few that work best for your family.

• Cool down by rubbing an ice cube on your forehead or neck. Or drink a cold glass of water.
• Smell lavender or another soothing scent
• Tense your muscles then release, repeat
• Experiment with deep breathing by taking dragon or lion breaths
• Practice mindfulness by doing a guided meditation

On behalf of the Nantucket Public Schools, the Special Services department and, through its affiliation with Cartwheel (our virtual mental health provider), we are pleased to offer a year-long webinar series.

The first webinar is in September and is titled Growing Together: Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health This School Year

I'm so excited to be starting my seventh year as a school counselor here at NIS! I was born and raised on Nantucket, and then lived in the Boston area for about 10 years before moving back to work at Nantucket Public Schools in 2020. In my free time I love to walk my dog Mocha, spend time with my husband Nick, do puzzles, and cook. I look forward to this new school year with all of you, and please feel free to reach out if there's anything you need!

Hello NIS families! My name is Ms. Manchester and I was born and raised on Nantucket Island and have lived here most of my life. I am in my 5th year as a School Counselor and am looking forward to meeting all of you! In my free time you can find me running through the trails of Nantucket, watching the Connecticut Sun Basketball team or spending time with my daughter Zoey and Millie, our Goldendoodle.

Hello! My name is Mrs. O'Keefe (formerly Ms. Sybert), and I am the school social worker at NIS. This will be my seventh year at NIS! Before moving to Nantucket, I lived in Connecticut. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring the Island's beautiful beaches, and taking my dog, Layla, for walks along Nantucket's scenic trails.