At the end of September and beginning of October, Boston School International proudly celebrated Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Week — a time dedicated to deepening our understanding of emotions, empathy, and the power of human connection.
The week was a resounding success — filled with openness, learning, and heartfelt conversations. We witnessed students expressing their feelings with confidence, teachers embracing new strategies to support emotional growth, and families engaging in meaningful dialogue about empathy and resilience.
At BSI, we believe that emotional learning is not an event, but a continuous journey. SEL Week reminded us that education is most powerful when it integrates both intellect and heart — when learning becomes a shared experience rooted in trust, care, and connection. That’s why we are strengthening the awareness of the importance of emotional health and interpersonal relationships as they are not an “addition” to the curriculum, but its essential foundation.
Throughout the week, our students, families, and staff had the privilege of learning from two remarkable educators and facilitators:
Juan Pablo Ventura, a clinical psychologist, educator, and founder of Elan Institute, brought more than two decades of experience working with students, teachers, and families. Author of La aventura de educar el corazón, his work focuses on the importance of emotional awareness, vulnerability, and building strong, compassionate educational communities. You can learn more about his work at @elan_institute on Instagram.
Daniel Vilasetru, an experienced educator and consultant specializing in social-emotional learning and community building, guided our community through reflections and interactive sessions designed to foster well-being, self-awareness, and authentic connection.
Their program emphasized key opportunities where timely action creates lasting impact, including:
- Strengthening community connections and a sense of belonging
- Promoting academic achievement and rigor through emotional balance
- Workshops and training for teachers and staff
- Student workshops across Grades 2–12
- Sessions with parents and the wider community
- An open conference on adolescence and emotional well-being
To capture this spirit, we turn to the metaphor of the sequoias — those majestic trees that stand tall for centuries, not because their roots go deep, but because they intertwine with the roots of others. Their strength lies in their connection.
That is what we aspire to at Boston School International: a community that stands strong because we are connected — supporting, uplifting, and growing together. More work to come.