Climate of Care

ESD Intentionally Creates A Climate of Care Through... 

  • Our advisory program
  • School-based chaplains and counselors
  • Daily Chapel
  • Special Programming Days
  • Counselors or invited speakers address topics including stress reduction, relaxation/mindfulness, and anxiety 
  • Service to others and outdoor education as integral components of an ESD education
  • Balanced nature of our curriculum so that students can pursue athletics and/or the arts alongside rigorous academics

     

Ways ESD Helps Reduce Stress and Anxiety for Our Students:

Lower School
  • Eagle Camp to start the new school year
  • Morning Meeting (Responsive Classroom Model) after daily chapel
  • Nurturing Eagles ~ Stronger Together (NEST) assemblies to build community among first through fourth grade
  • Notes from the NEST
  • Kindergarten and Fourth Grade Buddies
  • Yoga and mindfulness instruction
  • Birthday Blessings
Middle School
  • Advisory/Advisory lunch 
  • Rotating schedule
  • Physical Education requirement
  • Recess and "IGLT" (Independent Grade-Level Time) periods
  • FLEX time and various clubs 
  • On-campus animals (fifth-grade science classroom, campus chicken coop, and Quarry)
  • Test calendar to limit the number of major exams in a given timeframe
  • Finals scheduled before winter break
  • Time allowed for off-campus mental health care (or medical leave of absence)
Upper School
  • Later start time for classes, 9:00 a.m.
  • Rotating schedule
  • FLEX time and various clubs (e.g., meditation club, spirit club, etc.) 
  • Test calendar to limit the number of major exams in a given timeframe
  • Finals scheduled before winter break
  • Greater emphasis on project-based learning
  • Time allowed for off-campus mental health care (or medical leave of absence)