Rebuilding Our Community Through SEL: The Little Moments That Matter

Key Points

• Relationships are the heart of learning. When students feel seen, heard, and valued, their academic and emotional growth accelerates.
• Small moments build big change. Consistent check-ins, goal-setting, and reflection create a culture of trust, accountability, and personal investment.
• SEL gives direction to students who often go unnoticed. By focusing on self-awareness and belief, we empower the “middle group” to take ownership of their learning and their future.

My small Northern California community has faced unimaginable challenges—from the Camp Fire and Carr Fire to COVID-19 and the recent Park Fire. As both an English teacher and activities director, I’ve seen how these events have deeply impacted our students and staff—academically, emotionally, and culturally. The need for connection, support, and a sense of belonging has never been greater. That’s where social and emotional learning (SEL) comes in—helping rebuild our campus culture by ensuring every voice is seen, heard, and valued.

Finding Purpose Beyond Tradition

For years, our district has been working to incorporate PBIS and MTSS. More recently, SEL has become a key part of our approach. Although we do not have a structured curriculum on campus just yet, the PBIS/MTSS team has been focusing their drive on SEL.

As an activities director, how I focus on my leadership students has changed. I have challenged them to think about the idea of leadership and that it needs to mean more than standing in front of a spirit section or having the only focus be the big rivalry games.

The real heart of leadership, the kind that makes a lasting impact, is found in the little moments that make people feel seen, heard, valued, and a part of something bigger.  That belief is what led me, along with my student government students, school administrators, and PBIS/MTSS team to create initiatives that will change culture and foster appreciation and connection on our campus.

The Power of Recognition

One of our biggest successes has been Staff Shout-Outs. Every Friday, my publicity officer and two seniors sneak into classrooms armed with confetti poppers, surprising teachers, aides, office managers—anyone who makes our school a better place. The PBIS team and admin follow close behind with a certificate, and we invite students and teachers to join in on a round of applause. We record the moment and post it on social media so that their recognition extends beyond our school walls and into the larger community. 

We wanted to make sure students felt just as appreciated. Student/Class Appreciation Days give teachers the chance to celebrate their class for something positive—maybe they aced a test, supported a classmate, or simply had great attitudes.

Teachers submit their nominations, and we send in a student government representative and an admin to read the message to the class. Then, every student in the room receives a goodie bag filled with fidgets, candy stickers, etc.—a small token that reinforces the idea that their efforts are seen and valued.

The small gesture connects students to their teachers and makes them feel valued in the classroom. Since we started in the fall, we’ve already handed out 1,300 goodie bags in a school of almost 2,000 students. 

And then there are the little things that make a big impact that my students have taken on themselves:

• Birthday Grams—Every student gets a small celebration on their special day. 
• Fanny Pack Days—Students wear fanny packs full of candy and hand it out to peers throughout the day, just to spread some joy.
• Good Vibes Cart—On Fridays during break periods, my students push around a cart blasting music, handing out free snacks, spirit beads, school gear, etc., simply because they want to make people smile. 

The Lesson SEL Has Taught Me

Schools have long been built around tradition—pep rallies, dances, rivalries—but with all that today’s students have faced, they are craving this sense of connection more than ever. They want to feel like they belong, like they matter. They want school to feel safe, connected, and meaningful. Even without a formal SEL curriculum, I knew I could start shifting the culture. When students feel connected, they’re more motivated to succeed.

And the same goes for staff. Teaching is hard, and the past few years have taken a toll. That’s why our SEL efforts are about more than students: They’re about building a culture of care and recognition for everyone on campus.

Moving Forward, Together

The work we’re doing with SEL has reinforced one thing for me: It’s not about the big moments, it’s about the little ones. The surprise confetti in a classroom, a student hearing their teacher say, “I’m proud of you,” a snack from a good vibes cart on a rough day. These are the moments that make students want to show up, that remind educators why they do this work, that strengthen the community we spend so much time in. 

What I have learned is that SEL is not just another initiative; it is a mindset. It’s a commitment to showing up for one another, to making kindness a habit, to prioritizing connection, and, if we keep that at the heart of what we do, I truly believe we can create a school where every student and staff member feels like they belong.

The views in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CASEL.

Stefanie Volk is a dedicated educator with 12 years of experience teaching 9th and 10th grade English, ranging from remedial to honors. She has served as activities director and student government teacher for 9 years, and has coached high school field hockey and soccer for 11 years. Stefanie is also a member of her school’s PBIS/MTSS team and serves as a link crew coordinator, working to foster a positive, inclusive campus culture through academic support, leadership development, and intentional relationship-building.

Related Posts

• Rising From the Ashes: How SEL Transformed Our School After a Crisis of a School Fire
• From Vision to Reality: Schoolwide SEL at a California Elementary School
• Creating a School Where Students Soar

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