District 3 is advancing its commitment to support every student's social-emotional growth and development. This year, D3 is making a significant stride by implementing a new social-emotional resource across our middle school and preschool program. This move directly addresses a goal in the District 3 Strategic Plan. You can review the full Strategic Plan here.
D3 has adopted Wayfinder, a research-backed program developed in collaboration with child development experts, which focuses on building future-ready skills for success in academics and life. Wayfinder goes beyond traditional Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) to help students develop a strong sense of purpose and belonging.
The Wayfinder curriculum is centered on six Core Skills: Self-Awareness, Collaboration, Empathy, Adaptability, Agency, and Purpose. By focusing on these skills, we are nurturing not only academic growth but also empowering our students to navigate life's complex challenges with confidence and purpose.
For Superintendent Dr. Matt Mayer and the staff of District 3, this is one of the most important jobs they have as educators.
"The health and well-being of our students is non-negotiable,” Mayer said. “We must equip our students with the emotional tools and sense of purpose they need to thrive academically and in life. This is an investment in their future success."
Our implementation of social-emotional learning varies by grade level.
Middle school students receive Wayfinder instruction during their daily homeroom period, a flexible structure that allows for deep engagement in social-emotional growth. For our youngest learners in preschool, our school counselor provides Wayfinder instruction by pushing into the classroom, ensuring they build a foundation of community and caring for others. Grades K-4 at ARS continue to use the Second Step curriculum, maintaining continuity for our elementary students.
We encourage families to visit the dedicated Wayfinder resource page to learn more about the program and how to support this learning at home.