By Elizabeth Day, LPC
Upper School Counselor
Over the summer, Head of School Bob Whelan asked me to head up the integration of #WinAtSocial, an exciting curriculum on social media for grades 5–10. Finding a comprehensive program on this topic that successfully connects with kids across such a vast developmental age span is like finding a needle in a haystack! Further, #WinAtSocial also supports parents with parallel educational resources. Truly, this is a win-win.
The appeal for me as a school counselor is that #WinAtSocial meets students where they’re at; there's no finger-wagging — no scare tactics. Instead, this program readily acknowledges the positive aspects of social media use. Then it effectively engages students in discussions around potentially problematic issues by actually using technology to pose realistic scenarios that most teens face every day. #WinAtSocial fleshes out the conversations that kids owe themselves, and their peers. By simultaneously educating parents about different social media platforms and how to have constructive conversations with one’s children, #WinAtSocial serves to bring communication within families' full circle. The result: both teens and adults are empowered to use social media for good, and to be more savvy about the potential pitfalls. Check out the Social Institute’s #WinAtSocial here.
In my counseling work, I find that immersion in social media use can have a negative impact on students’ abilities to concentrate on their learning. Without a doubt, Facebook, Instagram, and Snap Chat are all distractions — not only from homework but also from what’s being taught in the classroom. Even more concerning, social media can be an aggravating factor in a host of mental health issues. As we focus our lens on the expectation of wellness, and positivity, it’s exciting that GFA is committed to reaching such a broad swath of our student body with goals to increase insight and skills on this ubiquitous topic. Corinne Kennelly, LS Counselor; Jackie Woods, our new MS Counselor; and I look forward to partnering with parents in further conversations about #WinAtSocial. Please be on the lookout for information about discussions on this vital new curriculum at respective Parent Connections Meetings.