LEWISTON — Lewiston Middle School was bursting with activity Friday afternoon as students played games, sang karaoke and enjoyed other pursuits in recognition of national Social Emotional Learning Day.

The activities were fun and lighthearted. Students moved between classrooms to engage in individual quiet activities or socialize with students on their team, celebrating the end of the second trimester.

At Wednesday’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent Jake Langlais said there were a dozen reports about students who are at risk of self-harm or have unsafe home conditions on his desk Monday morning.

“If we don’t think we need SEL supports for our kids to learn coping strategies and how to navigate family situations at home, we are on the wrong page,” Langlais said. “The level of need when it comes to students and how they hurt, everything from equity to social skills to coping strategies to trying to be their best self, our kids are hurting right now coming out of this pandemic. We cannot ignore that or we will see more students in terrible situations, incarceration, death. We’re already seeing it.”

“I will support every single minute, with evidence, of how it’s changing kids’ lives,” Langlais said.

All Lewiston schools, including the central office, participated in social and emotional learning activities Friday. Montello Elementary School students decorated doors to represent different feelings, Geiger Elementary School students discussed bullying and perseverance, and Connors Elementary School students paused four times during the day for community mood reflections, to name a few.

At its core, social and emotional education is focused on giving students the skills they need to develop healthy relationships, manage conflict, express their emotions through nonphysical outlets and make good decisions. Some say the goal is simply to help students develop a bond with at least one adult at school.

“They’re not ‘soft skills’ anymore,” Ayesha Hall, SEL and equity resource coordinator, said. “These are things that you need in order to be successful and to thrive in school and in life.”

Social emotional learning is also tied to racial equity, she said, emphasizing the importance of creating activities that help students from all backgrounds engage and understand each other.

On Friday, social studies teacher Spencer Dewitt supervised students as they drew in his class.

“It may just look like drawing, but you’re building connection with students, you’re giving them a creative outlet,” he said.

He believes that developing social skills is just as important for kids as academics. Social and emotional learning activities not only help students describe and express their emotions, but also understand why they feel the way they do, he said.

Last year, the middle school added a short period each day for students to engage in social and emotional learning activities. Since its start, students say these daily activities have evolved to become more interactive and fun.

Some of their favorite activities this year included decorating the school hallways and participating in airplane-making competitions. In April, students and staff will participate in a dodgeball tournament.

Eighth grader Carlos Silva said he believes these activities help encourage students to come to school because they have something fun to look forward to. Another student leader said she feels it can help shy students learn how to share their voice.

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