Social Emotional Learning

At Akiva, we believe that helping children grow socially and emotionally is just as important as their academic learning. Our Counselling Department works closely with staff and students to support positive relationships, emotional well-being, and healthy social development.

The Counselling Department facilitates Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons in every classroom throughout the year. SEL is a framework that helps students develop the skills they need to succeed both in and out of school. The five core areas of SEL are:

• Self-awareness – understanding your own emotions, thoughts, and values
• Self-management – managing emotions, setting goals, and handling stress
• Social awareness – showing empathy and respect for others
• Relationship skills – building healthy connections and resolving conflicts
• Responsible decision-making – making thoughtful, caring, and ethical choices

Through classroom lessons, group activities, and individual support, students explore topics such as friendships, empathy, conflict resolution, communication, self-regulation, and navigating social media. These lessons are also connected to Akiva’s 5 Promises, which guide our school community in fostering kindness, responsibility, respect, resilience, and inclusivity.

We also partner with parents by offering workshops and resources on a variety of topics, such as supporting children’s social skills, navigating social media, and preparing for transitions. Together, we work to ensure students feel connected, supported, and empowered to thrive as kind, capable, and confident members of our community.

Our Counselling Team includes:

Jaimee Kravitz, Director of Counselling
Shari Endleman, School Counsellor