Lemont High School to host Dr. Joelle Hood for parent presentation

On Monday, August 14, Lemont High School will host a presentation featuring Dr. Joelle Hood, co-founder of Thriving YOUniversity. The presentation - titled, “Emotional Intelligence - The 21st Century Skills Your Teen Needs to Thrive” - will be held from 7-8 p.m. in the school’s Commons, and is open to the public.

Dr. Hood has accumulated more than 25 years of experience in the field of education as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and consultant, and is committed to influencing, inspiring, and igniting others to become the best possible version of themselves. She has served as a consultant to Lemont High School as its faculty have developed the new school-wide “Lemont Time” program, and will work with the faculty on August 14 prior to the parent event. Additional information about Dr. Hood’s presentation is included below. 

In order to properly plan for the presentation, Dr. Hood is looking for the number of individuals planning to attend. This event is intended for parents/guardians; students should not attend.

Please click here by 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 13, to RSVP for the event.

Attendees should park in the North Lot and enter Lemont High School through the main entrance (i.e., the “Archway” entrance) off of Porter Street. Please click here for directions.

Dr. Hood will be available for questions after her presentation is complete.

Lemont High School also will host “Back to School Night” from 6-8 p.m. on August 14.

Emotional Intelligence -
The 21st Century Skills Your Teen Needs to Thrive

Youth today are facing incredible circumstances, which have led to increased rates of anxiety and depression. The COVID-19 pandemic, partnered with the smartphone epidemic, has exacerbated the rates of sadness, loneliness, and stress that teens are feeling, which negatively impacts their social interactions, engagement, and performance at school, as well as their mental and emotional health.

An April 2022 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 44 percent of teens feel “persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.”

• This increased from around 26 percent in 2009 and 37 percent in 2019.
• Among high school students in 2019, more than 1 in 3 (36.7 percent) reported feeling sad or hopeless, and nearly 1 in 5 (18.8 percent) seriously considered attempting suicide.
• About 7 in 100,000 children aged 10–19 years died by suicide in 2018 and 2019. It is the second leading cause of death for youth over 10.

To flourish means “to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as a result of a particularly favorable environment.” Teenagers spend a significant amount of time at school. If we want students to flourish, we must all work together to nourish the environment and cultivate the climate for optimum growth and resilience. It takes all of us.

It starts with building belonging. Strong social connections strengthen our immune system, lower anxiety and depression, and even help us live longer. Additionally, people who feel connected are more empathetic, trusting, and cooperative. Establishing a sense of belonging and connection in the classroom creates an academically safe environment where students are more likely to participate, ask questions, and engage in the lessons. Belonging can also strengthen hope and optimism, key factors in resilience and academic success.

Research shows that social-emotional learning (SEL) is critical for student success in school, college, work, and life. An ever-increasing number of schools and districts across the globe are realizing the importance of SEL. However, some people still need to figure out where it fits in– whether it is a behavioral intervention or something extra to add to an already jam-packed academic day. The truth is, SEL isn’t separate from academics – the two go hand-in-hand.

In this informative and engaging session, participants will explore and reflect on the research on why prioritizing belonging and emotional intelligence skills are essential to success in school, work, and life, and why these skills are critical for teens.