Category Archives: empathy

The Importance of Social Emotional Learning

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

At a recent Parent Involvement Association (PIA) Meeting, our accomplished Division Heads and our amazing School Counselor shared our SEL curriculum with parents. We like to say the “the social emotional curriculum sets the table for the academic and cognitive … Continue reading →

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The difference between nice and kind…

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

At Seven Hills, we often say to students “when you have a choice, be kind…” This is a great distillation of the “why.” There’s a difference between nice and being kind—even our bodies recognize the distinction. Kindness not only pours … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, education, empathy, kindness, mental health, mindfulness, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The difference between nice and kind…

On David Brooks’ Op-Ed Dateline October 20, 2023, Tanzania, Africa

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I am here in Africa for only the second time in my life, the second time in 12 months, as it turns out, preparing for a personal challenge to climb Africa’s tallest mountain. It is sunrise. I am listening to … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, David Brooks, NY Times, early childhood education, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, empathy, global skills, mental health, mindfulness, new york times, NY Times, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, the science of emotion | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on On David Brooks’ Op-Ed Dateline October 20, 2023, Tanzania, Africa

So we do not have Anderson Cooper! But we have an upgrade to Viola Davis as our opening speaker!

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

My top 13 Viola Davis quotes. “It was the sort of poverty that makes you feel invisible. I left home for school every day either hiding or angry.” “You find and become yourself when you find who you were messily, … Continue reading →

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Being Grateful CAN prolong your life…

Posted on November 24, 2018 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

  At Seven Hills, one of our core values is Be Grateful. We teach students to be aware of how lucky they are to be able to attend Seven Hills and to recognize that not everyone is as fortunate. We … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education, empathy, global skills, gratitude, leadership in children, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged | Comments Off on Being Grateful CAN prolong your life…

Before we know the election results…

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I have a clear recollection after the 2016 election that I wished I had anticipated where the hot spots would be in our community, regardless of outcome. As we try and help our students make sense of an increasingly polarized … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adolescent development, education, empathy, fear, global skills, parenting, washington post | Tagged , | Comments Off on Before we know the election results…

Raising Caring Kids… Harvard’s “Making Caring Common Initiative

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

As we try and model empathy and compassion for our students and children, we are faced with the task of working against a lot of what they are seeing and hearing in the popular culture, and even in the news … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, childhood development, education, empathy, Harvard Graduate School of education, Harvard's Caring Schools Initiative | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Raising Caring Kids… Harvard’s “Making Caring Common Initiative

We are living in strange times

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

These are strange times. No matter your political beliefs or your ability to absorb the twenty-four hour news cycle, these are strange times. I find myself at loose ends much more since the start of the New Year, searching for … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adolescent development, aggression among girls, body image, Challenge Success, childhood development, education, empathy, Harvard Graduate School of education, Harvard's Caring Schools Initiative, leadership, leadership in children | Comments Off on We are living in strange times