The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) committee met with Assistant Principal Jamie Thill for the second time on Oct. 10. Lessons planned by the committee were given to freshmen during the PSAT on Wednesday. 

“It’s more meaningful when the lessons, ideas and the feedback comes from students than adults,” Thill said. “We’re not in the classrooms. We’re around students, but it’s really authentic when students come to me and say ‘This is what we’re facing now.’ We can pretend we know what they’re facing, but truly to hear it from them, it’s more authentic and we can create lessons that target what’s important to them.”

Freshmen rotated between activities on Wednesday, including free time on the football field, a presentation on expectations, learning about the term BIA (Best in America) and a Blooket about the history of the school.

“I think it’s important just because it gives students more control over their school environment, so it’s more honest,” senior Spirit Coordinator Ariana Dees. “It gives students more ground to have the ability to have their school in certain ways, the way they want it to be.”

Social-Emotional Learning brings self-awareness and interpersonal skills to school curriculum. Lessons take place Wednesdays during homeroom and are led by homeroom teachers. 

“Some classes are diving into lessons and they don’t have phones out and they’re talking about it and they’re having meaningful conversation,” Thill said. “We know, we’re realistic, right. There are some that maybe aren’t taking it as seriously. They watch the video, they close it, the kids are on their phones. But I think once we start incorporating the lessons we’re going to create together as a committee, whatever that may be about, I think it’ll have more impact.”

Student opinions were brought into SEL to personalize the experience and reflect students and their needs. 

“I have anxiety so I have to know how to control [it] and methods to help me calm down,” freshman Marisol Billiot said. “And I think it’s important that everybody should know those methods, because a large percent of adolescents have anxiety. I think they should know how to cope and deal with it.”

The concept of Best in America was introduced to the school from the beginning. With new admin and a new generation of students, the SEL committee hopes to bring the BIA mindset back. 

“We’re currently trying to reinstate BIA in school because I feel like there are so many changes that have come to the school that have caused a negative standpoint on Johnson,” senior  Dees said. “I feel like maybe reinstating some things that we had prioritized before may help.”