Tracy Lafreniere, Rachel Salvatore and Jennifer Daigneault

The team’s innovative idea, “Smart Start,” identifies the school’s highest priority students at each grade level in kindergarten through fourth grade and invites them to a before-school program with the goal of providing a predictable and stable “anchor point” prior to the start of their school day. This one-hour, before-school program will have three critical elements: (1) positive social connection with adults and peers (2) development of healthy habits including healthy food intake and physical activity; and (3) social and emotional learning through read-aloud sessions, role-playing and goal setting for the day. This predictable and supportive morning ritual is designed to help restore homeostasis after the transition from home to support learning.