Riverside students, staff describe social-emotional programs, mentorships and morning meetings

Max, principal of Riverside School, told the Princeton Board of Education on the evening of the district meeting that Riverside's elementary goal for the year is to increase the percentage of students who report having a trusted adult they can turn to for help.

The goal anchors a presentation by Max and two student co-presenters, Alex Bansal and Violet Sprawls, who described daily morning meetings, counselor-led classroom lessons and lunch-bunch small groups designed to teach social-emotional skills and strengthen relationships.

Max said morning meetings are held in every classroom and focus on “creating a caring and respectful community and help students feel valued and heard.” He said he visits morning meetings regularly. Student presenters described short activities used in morning meetings, weekly student-led presentations, and games that build inclusion and cooperation. “It helps us start off the morning on a high note and gets everybody pumped up for the school day,” Alex said.

School counselor Mr. Samara (identified in the presentation) delivers classroom lessons on growth mindset, teamwork, assertiveness and identifying emotions, and runs lunch-bunch groups two to three times a year to build students’ comfort in working with the counselor. Students and staff also use a “think it through” approach in lessons to connect events, thoughts and feelings as a way to avoid escalation. A third-grade activity, “character strengths,” asks students to identify personal strengths and reflects that approach.

A new staff–student mentorship program pairs 25 students with volunteer staff for one-to-one connections during lunch, planning periods or prep time. Max said mentors’ activities have included playing football, crocheting and other one-on-one interactions; he described the program as a way “to connect with someone in the building who might, you know, like to have a little bit more support.” The presentation included a photo of a staff mentor with a mentee engaged in a classroom task.

Student council members (elementary and fifth-grade representatives) said the council meets monthly and has subcommittees for bathrooms, recess/playground and lunch; they credited the council with quickly changing an inefficient lunch line and with giving students a voice in school improvements. The presentation also highlighted a gratitude challenge that produced more than 200 gratitude slips and an upcoming Kindness Challenge scheduled the week of Jan. 27.

Board members thanked the students and principal for the presentation. Max and the students emphasized the link between everyday routines (morning meetings, counselor lessons, mentorships and student council work) and the district’s stated goal of making sure students know a trusted adult is available.

The presentation was delivered during the board’s public meeting; board members did not take a formal vote on the Riverside initiatives during the session.

The board acknowledged the presentation and moved on to the evening’s agenda.