Student Support

 

The Mission of Westside's Student Support Department is to provide a proactive and comprehensive program to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of all students and to identify and address barriers to growth. By partnering with families, staff, and the wider community, we promote joyful learning and a sense of belonging at Westside.

Meeting the Learning Needs of Our Students

Each individual learning journey includes times of great triumph and steady progress. However, every journey also includes periods of struggle and times when students are faced with challenging obstacles or even barriers to growth. Westside's academic and learning support team aims to support students on their journey by providing small-group academic support in specific areas, finding ways to stretch students during times of academic achievement, and working directly with students and families on academic concerns. The four main objectives for learning support include:

  • Support in areas of academic difficulty.
  • Support in areas of academic strength.
  • Differentiating instruction for different learners.
  • Addressing attention and/or executive functioning difficulties.

 

Teaching and Learning are Both Social and Emotional

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is foundational to all aspects of the student experience. We integrate SEL and Social Justice Standards to emphasize personal growth and social awareness. Our approach equips students with the skills to express their authentic selves in a diverse community and to recognize and challenge injustice, fostering an inclusive school rooted in a sense of belonging.

We believe children learn to become caring members of a global community by treating each other honestly, with respect and generosity of spirit. We teach children how to recognize and respond to the needs and emotions of others through the intentional teaching of empathy, gratitude, compassion, and kindness. Westside’s SEL program also prioritizes cultural diversity, encouraging self-reflection and social awareness in an inclusive school. This approach fosters a compassionate community rooted in joy and belonging, preparing students for academic success and responsible citizenship.

Social and Emotional Learning is central to Westside’s mission and core values and is thoughtfully woven into every part of the student experience. We believe that all teaching and learning are both social and emotional. Therefore, all teachers have received training in Positive Discipline, which is at the foundation of our SEL work. The Positive Discipline approach emphasizes connection with others and recognizes what decades of research has proven: Kids learn best when they feel known, heard, and cared for by their teachers and peers.
 
Developmentally appropriate SEL instruction begins in preschool and continues through 8th grade, teaching students skills and competencies in the areas of:
 
  • Self-awareness and personal identity
  • Interdependent relationship skills in a diverse community
  • Social and community awareness
  • Responsible action toward social justice
Whether students are hard at work during a classroom lesson, having fun in their multi-grade Wolfpacks, or out in the wilderness on an overnight trip, the integration of SEL is evident in the way our students are attuned to themselves, others, and their surroundings.

To support and guide this SEL work, our Student Support team works directly with students, teachers, and families to provide the framework for a proactive and skills-based approach to Social-Emotional Learning.
 
Students receive direct SEL instruction through weekly classroom lessons in Lower School and both the Ethics & Equity and Advisory programs in Middle School. Small group or individual support is also available for emergent needs.

Teachers are also provided coaching on SEL integration as well as weekly meeting time to discuss and address emerging SEL needs within our community.

 

Counseling and SEL Blog Posts

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A woman sitting on a couch and reading a book to a group of 2nd grade students sitting on the floor
A student from middle school watches a student from lower school write something on a piece of paper