Pagano Foundation supports social, emotional learning

Posted 3/20/19

The Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation has donated $11,400, along with funding from Cranston Public Schools, to the Center for Resilience to aid Cranston students in a social and emotional learning curriculum. The program, piloted in Cranston for the first time

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Pagano Foundation supports social, emotional learning

Posted

The Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation has donated $11,400, along with funding from Cranston Public Schools, to the Center for Resilience to aid Cranston students in a social and emotional learning curriculum.

The program, piloted in Cranston for the first time for the 2018-19 school year, is currently underway in first-grade classrooms at Edgewood Highland and Stadium elementary schools. The center’s trained staff members go into the classroom twice a week throughout the school year and teach mindfulness techniques to the students, helping them focus attention, sustain motivation in work, handle frustrations and understand and manage emotions when communicating with peers.

“After observing these young children respond so positively to the mindfulness interactive exercises, and speaking with their teacher, Mary Cotoia, it has become apparent that this grant is helping to prepare the children emotionally to weather the ups and downs of academic learning throughout the year, and develop interpersonal skills they can use now and in the future,” said Lisa Pagano, president of the foundation. “In partnering with the Cranston Public Schools and the Center for Resilience, the foundation seeks to provide young students with tools they can use in life to increase emotional intelligence, and ultimately improve academic performance.”

For five years, the Center for Resilience, formerly ResilientKids, has worked with more than 5,000 Rhode Island students at 24 different schools across the state. Results showed dramatic reductions in student and teacher stress, bullying, and behavior-related visits to the principal’s office.

Increased interest from teachers led to the expansion of the organization in 2015. Renamed the Center for Resilience, the organization will maintain a focus on its core – the ResilientKids’ work in local schools – while also expanding engage with people of all ages to enhance emotional intelligence, stress management and well-being in the classroom, community and workplace.

“We are excited to be supporting the social and emotional learning of students in Cranston. We hope that this new partnership, with the generous support of the Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation, will continue to grow to meet the needs of all students and teachers in the district. In keeping with the state’s Social and Emotional Learning Standards and Common Core Anchor Standards, our team has been so warmly welcomed by everyone involved with the project as we all work together to foster the development of these lifelong skills in our next generation,” stated Vanessa Weiner, executive director at Center for Resilience.

“The first-graders at Edgewood are eager to learn and really understand and apply the tools they learn from Center for Resilience’s ResilientKids Curriculum. I’ve had the privilege of watching the students become more mindful, self-aware, and resilient. I have immense gratitude for the Pagano Foundation for allowing me to teach these kids powerful lessons that I wish I had been taught in school,” said Sarah Dwyer, Center for Resilience instructor.

The foundation has committed to funding two additional classrooms in the 2019-20 school year, possibly expanding mindfulness teaching into the middle and high schools.

Center for Resilience is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people to empower themselves through the practice of mindfulness, which fosters success in the classroom, community and workplace. Its trained staff, tailored curriculum, interactive workshops and online resources help children and adults manage stress, overcome obstacles, cultivate compassion and thrive through adversity – outcomes that benefit both the individual and society as a whole. Learn more about the school-based program, ResilientKids, and offerings for the community and workplace at centerforresilience.org.

The mission at the Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation is to make charitable grants to individuals, groups and organizations that improve the quality of life for children, and foster character building and a strong foundation for their future. Its work is made possible by the generous contributions and involvement from the community. For more information, visit jimpaganofoundation.com.

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