SEL & Mindfulness Programs

All students at CBA are exposed to training in mindfulness through our Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum.  With the help of our in-house SEL Coordinator, we have carefully designed programs appropriate to each grade level that will help to ensure the overall emotional well-being of our students.  Our SEL Center is always available to students.  This beautiful space has been dedicated to problem solving, meditation, quiet contemplation, and emotional release.  It is a safe space maintained by not only our SEL Coordinator but by every member of our staff and faculty.  Should students need to "take a beat" or seek out a place to "just be" during their school day these doors are open to them, and supportive staff is waiting to help them find their way back to comfort.  

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Introducing Mrs. Marie Altavilla, our SEL Coordinator 

A veteran elementary school teacher who has spent twenty-five years teaching in primary classrooms across the country, Mrs. Altavilla will be sharing with our students her beautiful ability to problem solve and help young people see the best in the most difficult situations. She has taught in six different school districts and worked extensively with students with special needs and their special education teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and school counselors to help each student reach his or her fullest potential. As a longtime National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) member, she remains current on Developmentally Appropriate Practices for young children. Mrs. Altavilla is passionate about educating families, teachers, and counselors about how young minds grow, think, and learn. She is a current graduate student in the Mental Health Counseling Program at St. Bonaventure University, pursuing a second masters degree. She hopes to be a child and family therapist utilizing play therapy in the clinical setting.  She is excited to be joining the Canterbury Brook Academy family and looks forward to helping our students remain emotionally and spiritually healthy while in our care.