Holly Stettner

Sometimes the things we change end up changing us. Our social emotional learning class, called The Pearl Project, grew out of a necessity to support challenging 6th grade students. It has not only helped several students cope with life, but it has changed the adults for the better through positive relationships and understanding by truly listening. The Pearl Project serves students who are not only entering middle school, but who may have had or currently have some trauma in their life or who are struggling in some other way. Often the trauma surfaces through behavior and struggles in school. The class is a safe place for kids to be heard, work on various skills and form positive relationships with both adults and their peers. We work on various self-care strategies and sometime have guest speakers. The past two years I have totally self funded this class out of pocket and relied on the generosity of colleagues willing to donate their time. Art materials, equipment (like yoga mats) for example, food items along with other activities (perhaps a field trip) have become very expensive. I would be so grateful if someone could donate to our class and help make a difference in student's lives.

I chose "Pearl Project" because natural pearls form when an irritant - and not the proverbial grain of sand (Life Trauma/Issues Students may struggle with) - works its way into an oyster, mussel, or clam. As a defense mechanism, a fluid is used to coat the irritant. (Skills/Strategies/Positive Peer & Adult Relationships) Layer upon layer of this coating, called 'nacre', is deposited until a lustrous pearl is formed. (Amazing students who use self-care strategies & build a support network) We share this with students at the beginning of the year and tell them they are ALL - Pearls. Students in this class have shared that the class really helped them in many different ways. Students became more self and socially aware, they learned various self-management skills, and worked on responsible decision making. Students also built positive relationships with peers, staff members, teachers and advocated for themselves with administration. Sometimes the things we change end up changing us. Our social emotional learning class, called The Pearl Project, grew out of a necessity to support challenging 6th grade students. It... read more