• COHO Time

     

    COHO Time

    COHO Time is a dedicated period each Monday where all of Sakai is involved in team-building, bullying prevention, building social skills and community service.  While it is based in Homerooms, all staff members participate: there are at least two adults in each classroom taking part in the lessons with the students. 

    Sakai’s school-wide effort is an outgrowth of our recognition that Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) can have a positive impact on student’s academic performance and success in life. It is an important developmental task of 5th and 6th graders to develop skills for positive social interaction.  This includes building skills in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. COHO Time is an opportunity to intentionally promote friendship and empathy skills in our students. We help students understand the difference between everyday conflict and unacceptable behavior. Students discuss and practice strategies for solving conflict and dealing with challenges in life.

    We also make sure that students understand the definition of bullying -- when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending him or herself -- and why it is harmful. Our lessons stress, and then practice, reporting bullying. We also develop students’ skills for coping with bullying if it does happen. All Sakai students learn and commit to follow four anti-bullying rules:

    1. We will not bully others.

    2. We will try to help students who are bullied.

    3. We will try to include students who are left out.

    4. If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

    We hope you will assist us in developing the social skills of our 5th and 6th graders! Ask your student about what they are doing in COHO Time. Check if they know and are following the anti-bullying rules. Encourage them, if they have been the target of bullying or seen others targeted, to report such instances to their teachers, Principal, Assistant Principal or Counselors.  You may volunteer at school and at lunchtime, so you can help promote a positive atmosphere for all kids!