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Student Wellness Self-Assessment (WCSD)

The Somers Central School District administers a student wellness self-assessment twice a year (fall and spring) in grades 5-12. This is an important element of our MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) plan, since we understand that student wellness is directly tied to learning and social growth. This brief self-assessment will ask students to consider their skills in managing their mood, social situations, schoolwork, and personal and academic goals. Students are asked to indicate whether a given skill is Very Difficult, Difficult, Easy or Very Easy for them. 

The skills assessed for grades 5-6 and 7-12, including specific questions asked and as a sample student report are linked below. After reviewing multiple options for a formal check-in on our students’ wellbeing, an advisory group consisting of students, parents, faculty, administration, and BoE representation unanimously agreed upon this self-assessment.  Developed by the Washoe County School District in Nevada, in partnership with CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) and the University of Illinois at Chicago, this self-assessment met the group’s target of identifying an effective, standardized, research-based tool. Specifically, the advisory group believed that this assessment:

• Offers straightforward feedback in the form of whether skills are difficult or easy for students, rather than categorizing students in any way.
• Asks questions using student-friendly language
• Asks pertinent questions related to students’ academic self-management
• Asks questions that are considered non-intrusive
• Asks questions that provide clear indicators for actionable areas

This is a free assessment that is delivered through a secure online program to which the district subscribes. Our mission in this effort is to help students, parents and our educators to identify student skills in need of further development, and skills that are current strengths. This insight can be an asset in helping to support individual students and groups of students to engage in their academic and social learning experiences most effectively.

We recognize that this is only a brief snapshot of a student’s self-reported skills on a given day and does not define a student now or in their future. We also recognize that these skills must continuously be developed, challenged and honed. Shared understanding of a student’s strengths and areas for growth allows for the most effective home and school partnerships, which in turn fosters the best opportunities for positive student outcomes.

Student participation in this self-assessment is voluntary. Parents can opt students out in advance of administration via a form emailed to parents in advance of the administration, and students may independently choose to opt out on the day of administration. While participation is optional, it is encouraged, as each student’s experience is unique and offers significant value for understanding all students’ needs.