Family Time is a special time at Patrick M. Villano School where students from different grade levels come together. It’s a time to make friends, to have fun, and to get to know others through social-emotional learning (SEL).
“I love planning the activities!” Amanda Binetti, the social worker at Patrick M. Villano School, said. “My favorite activity is always the icebreaker because I think it’s a fun and easy way to get everyone moving or just encouraging students to interact with each other through a game and something similar.”
Binetti works closely with the SEL staff committee to plan lessons and activities. The committee includes sixth grade ELA teacher Meghan Pritchard, speech teacher Linda Giovanni, gym teacher Colleen Malzhan, school psychologist Nicole Barbarino, and special education teachers Sherry Robson and Hannah Phalen. The first Family Time took place on September 25.
“I am always thinking of the students and wondering how they will feel about each topic, conversation, activity, game, etc.” Binetti said.
Binetti said she loves that Family Time contributes so much to our school’s tradition and culture. She’d love to switch things up a bit and hold a Family Time outside on the lower field because other groups could then interact with one another. Sixth grader Ava Samuels said she loves Family Time.
“I especially like that it’s with other grades because then you can better get to know either people in grades below you or above you,” Samuels said.
Samuels enjoys Family Time so much she wishes it could take place more than once a month for 40 minutes. Hailey Ciavaglia, a student in the fourth grade, agrees.
“I would like it more often. I don’t think it could be less often,” Ciavaglia said. She enjoyed her first icebreaker activity this year. It was a get-to-know-you Bingo board. The idea of a scavenger hunt during Family Time is one that she would enjoy, as well.
