Outdoor Equipment
Jill Jastren
In order to encourage community, social engagement, and activities during the lunch and community time periods, we would like to purchase a basketball hoop, volleyball net, four square volleyball net, basketballs, volleyballs and a replacement hoop for the space outside of the lunch room. Offering these social game and activity choices help create natural opportunities to support social and emotional learning for all of our Mill Creek students.
In order to encourage community, social engagement, and activities during the lunch and community time periods, we would like to purchase a new basketball hoop, a volleyball net, and a four square volleyball net, rim replacement along with basketballs and volleyballs. Our Gaga pit was removed outside of the cafeteria this past summer and the current basketball hoop that our team purchased in 2021 has been damaged and bandaged back together several times. The grant would allow choice for our students and opportunities for social and emotional engagement. When students organize sports activities on their own it develops their leadership and teamwork, social skills, creativity, problem solving, inclusivity, physical activity and health, along with boosting their confidence and self-esteem. Offering these social game and activity choices creates natural opportunities to boost social and emotional learning for our students.
A recent Yale School of Medicine study confirms that social and emotional learning (SEL) significantly supports students' academic, social, and emotional well-being. Having the equipment offered for these social opportunities can help aid in the benefits of SEL and show improvements in school engagement, self-efficacy, and resilience, leading to higher academic performance and attendance. Socially, these opportunities can enhance self-esteem, perseverance, empathy, and positive interactions with peers, creating a more connected school experience. These benefits underscore SEL's role in addressing the mental health crisis among youth by fostering emotional stability, and social connectedness over time. (Yale School of Medicine, 2023). We give the students the space, and time to explore these social and emotional benefits but having the equipment necessary would increase student engagement along with natural opportunities for growth in these areas.
Works Cited
Yale School of Medicine. (2023, July 14). New research published in Child Development confirms social and emotional learning significantly improves student academic performance, well-being, and perceptions of school safety. Retrieved from https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/new-research-published-in-child-development-confirms-social-and-emotional-learning-significantly-improves-student-academic-performance-well-being-and-perceptions-of-school-safety/