Social and Emotional Learning

Colfax has an amazing team committed to social and emotional learning for students and families. Colfax has a full-time school psychologist, a school psychologist practicum student, a full-time Restorative Justice Coordinator and a partnership with the Maria Droste Counseling Center. Meet the SEL Team at Colfax here.

Second Step

The Second Step program is a holistic approach to building supportive communities for every child through social-emotional learning. Children need social-emotional skills to thrive both in the classroom and in life. Social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula teach children techniques to:

Maria Droste Counseling Center

The Maria Droste Counseling Center has partnered with Colfax over several years to offer support to Colfax students and their families. Services include anxiety and stress management, depression, grief and loss, parenting, and many other current concerns you may want support with. Counsellors work individually with parents, students or the entire family. Please call the Access Center at 303-867-4600 to get connected with a therapist today.

Restorative Practices

Colfax uses the Restorative Practices approach when students face challenging situations. We use a problem solving circle, where certain language is used to guide conversation and help repair relationships. You can support your child by using similar language at home.

At school, we ask the following questions:

1. What happened?

2. Who else has been affected and how?

3. What do you need so that things can be put right and everyone can move on?

4. What can we do to improve this situation and make sure this doesn’t happen again?

​If your child has been harmed by the actions of others, using a restorative approach, we ask the following questions.

1. What did you think when you realized what had happened?

2. What have your thoughts been since?

3. How has this affected you and others?

4. What has been the hardest thing for you?

5. What do you think needs to happen to make things right?

There is no blaming or shaming!

Conscious Discipline

Conscious Discipline is a proven, comprehensive approach that empowers students with skills that create a safe, connected, problem-solving environment.  Colfax teachers across all grade levels and support staff use Conscious Discipline techniques and resources to integrate social-emotional learning, discipline and self-regulation so they spend less time redirecting behavior and more time teaching vital life skills.