As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, public schools have given greater focus to students’ mental health, and Chapel Hill High School is no exception.
The pandemic, coupled with remote learning, has exacerbated difficulties students face, such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness—all components that affect productivity and overall feelings of well-being.
A lack of social interaction during the pandemic has amplified the challenges students face. A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control revealed that 40.9% of young adults reported at least one “adverse mental or behavioral health condition.”
Sophomore Keegan Schulteis said she has felt more stressed and more separated from her friends since the start of remote learning.
“Online school has made me feel more isolated because I don’t get to see my friends daily like I normally do,” she said.
The district is working to implement more measures of connectivity in virtual classrooms, and one of these initiatives includes Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) describes SEL as the “process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals,” while also showing empathy for others and maintaining supportive relationships.
Educational professionals and school administrators see SEL as a way for students to build healthy life skills and habits.
CASEL contends that SEL interventions have increased student academic performance by 11 percentile points compared to students without exposure to such programs, and the school’s mental health specialist Erich Priest also sees the benefits of incorporating SEL into curricula.
“We have to do a better job of intentionally bringing SEL into the classroom,” he said. “Those relationships—the stronger connections—they can make a stronger difference in engaging the students for learning.”
Teachers in the district have been encouraged to include SEL in their virtual classrooms. Examples include greeting students at the beginning of class and allowing time for students to connect in breakout sessions.
Social studies teacher Tim Campbell dedicates time at the beginning of each live session to greet his students in an effort to create a sense of community.
“I try to show them that someone knows they are there,” he said. “They know I’m going to call them by their name and say hi.”
Drama teacher Thomas Drago emphasizes the importance of breakout rooms in efforts to build connections among his students.
“At least once during each live lesson, each of my students is given the chance to share their voices, opinions, and beliefs about a variety of topics and issues—some personal, some global,” Drago said.
Junior Madi Lin, also a member of Student Government, said that breakout sessions have allowed her to “interact with people” and help her to feel “very involved.”
Junior Julian Brown has also noticed how her instructors are incorporating SEL in their daily routines, particularly with breakout sessions.
“My theater and AP Environmental Science teachers have us do breakout rooms with small groups of people or have a daily check in to see how we are doing,” she said.
Social studies teacher Parker Whitehouse said he implements SEL at the “start of every class with some form of non-school related gathering.” His efforts have encouraged students to turn their cameras on and engage with each other, he said.
Priest noted it’s important for students to focus on SEL outside of the classroom, as well, and encourages pupils to reach out to family members and friends through virtual meetings and socially distanced outdoor meet-ups.
Priest also publishes a weekly SEL tip for students and faculty in the school’s Daily Roar email.
“When things get stressful, and tough,” Priest said, “we tend to throw ourselves into work, or into an unhealthy coping skill, but it’s a good time to stop and say, what would actually help? And I think what would really help is just scheduling times to do things like exercise, try to get outside and make it a point to call a friend.”
