"All learning has an emotional base." -Plato

My name is Laura and I am a first grade teacher at Hamilton Heights School (PS 368) in New York City. We are a very small progressive school with an interest in nurturing the whole child--not just the academics, but the social-emotional as well.

Research supports our school's vision. According to the Responsive Classroom website, "In 2011, the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) conducted a meta-analysis of 213 school-based, social and emotional learning (SEL) programs involving 270,034 kindergarten through high school students. Compared to controls, SEL participants demonstrated significantly improved social and emotional skills, attitudes, behavior, and academic performance that reflected an 11-percentile-point gain in achievement."

We have an opportunity to send 4 teachers to an Emotional Responsiveness Institute. This is a 5-day training with a 6th in-school visit and consulation. Under the lead of Castle Bridge principal Julia Zuckerman, progressive schools in our district (District 6) are teaming up to send teachers to be trained in explicit social emotional curriculum. The training begins on October 25, 2016.

The total cost of this training for our school to attend is $5,300. Our school's 501c3 organization, Friends of Hamilton Heights School, is offering to match us if we raise half of the funds--$2650.

Would you consider giving to this worthwhile opportunity to support our teachers and nurture our students?  We are grateful for your time and attention.