St. Giles School in Oak Park, Illinois, uses Peekapak to bring clarity, consistency, and data to social-emotional learning. Learn how structured SEL transformed emotional awareness across grades K-8.
From Good Intentions to a Cohesive SEL Framework
At St. Giles School in Oak Park, Illinois, supporting students’ emotional growth has always mattered. But like many schools, SEL once depended on a patchwork of lessons—strong ideas without a unifying structure.
School Counselor Pam Wynne knew what students needed: consistency, progression, and a way to clearly articulate what was being taught and why.
“It wasn’t the teaching of SEL that was hard,” Pam shared. “It was having a clear, cohesive, standards-aligned program that I could track and communicate.”
That realization sparked a shift toward a more intentional approach.
The Challenge: Teaching Without a System
Before Peekapak, Pam regularly delivered SEL lessons but faced three key obstacles:
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Lack of cohesion: Lessons existed as stand-alone activities rather than part of a connected K–8 progression.
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Limited data: There was no simple way to track how students were developing emotional skills over time.
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Communication gaps: Without a clear framework, explaining SEL outcomes to administrators required extra work.
SEL conversations were happening but without a shared structure, long-term growth was difficult to measure.
The Solution: Peekapak as the Backbone of SEL
Peekapak brought immediate clarity. Organized by CASEL competencies, the curriculum allowed Pam to see how skills build across grade levels—and helped students do the same.
Today, SEL at St. Giles follows a consistent rhythm:
– Grades K–2: Bi-weekly lessons, with future expansion planned
– Grades 3–8: Weekly 40-minute SEL classes
– Middle School: Peekapak units blended with executive functioning instruction
Pam adapts lessons to fit her students, supplementing with cooperative activities like gallery walks and group reflection to deepen engagement.
“I love the way Peekapak is broken down,” she said. “It’s structured, thoughtful, and easy to track.”
Stories That Open the Door to Real Conversation
One of Peekapak’s most powerful tools at St. Giles is storytelling. Students consistently connect with the characters and situations, reacting emotionally and drawing parallels to their own lives.
“The stories spur emotion,” Pam explained. “Students are very ready to share their own experiences because of them.”
By discussing fictional scenarios first, students feel safer exploring their own feelings, especially when navigating complex social dynamics in middle school.
A Shift in Emotional Awareness
Over time, Pam noticed a change. As students became familiar with the feelings wheel and check-ins, conversations deepened.
Instead of defaulting to basic labels, students began naming more nuanced emotions.
“I’m not just mad; I’m frustrated, overwhelmed, or anxious,” students now say.
This growth in emotional vocabulary has strengthened self-awareness and reflection, key foundations for empathy, regulation, and healthy relationships.
Data That Strengthens SEL Leadership
Beyond classroom impact, Peekapak’s built-in data tools have transformed how Pam communicates about SEL. Feelings check-ins and aligned reports provide tangible evidence of trends, engagement, and student needs.
For the first time, SEL outcomes are easier to track, reflect on, and share with school leadership, helping elevate wellbeing as a strategic priority rather than an informal add-on.
Advice for Educators Starting Their SEL Journey
Pam offers thoughtful guidance for educators new to Peekapak:
1. Prepare intentionally. Preview lessons and stories, SEL requires emotional readiness, not just content knowledge.
2. Use feelings check-ins often. Daily use, if possible, helps embed emotional awareness into school culture.
3. Make it your own. Adapt pacing and activities to meet students where they are.
“Peekapak offers flexibility, but the structure is there to support you,” she emphasized.
Looking Ahead
Next year, Pam plans to integrate daily feelings check-ins into morning routines for younger grades, further strengthening continuity across the school.
Reflecting on the journey, she shared:
“Peekapak gave me the clarity, consistency, and data I was missing, it’s helped elevate our SEL program in a meaningful way.”
At St. Giles School, SEL is no longer a collection of lessons. It’s a thoughtful, trackable, and evolving program, one that supports students in understanding themselves and each other, every step of the way.