The Silicon Valley International School community has always taken pride in its ability to adapt and rise to meet the challenges of our times. This year’s Fund-a-Need campaign addresses one of the most pressing issues facing our students today: the growing social-emotional learning gap. 

One of the key aspects of social-emotional growth is the idea of positive struggle. In today's world, students often have fewer responsibilities and fewer opportunities to experience challenges that build resilience. By providing an academic environment that pushes students outside of their comfort zones, we can help them develop confidence and a sense of independence. Facing challenges head-on and working through them fosters essential life skills, including perseverance and problem-solving. 

To effectively support students in their social-emotional development, teachers need powerful training in how to facilitate integration of social-emotional learning (SEL) in everyday classes. 
Our Fund-a-Need campaign aims to provide educators with the resources and professional development necessary to guide students in building strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness. With your generosity, we can raise funds to bring in trainers who can work closely with teachers to enhance their SEL instruction and provide guidance to parents on fostering these skills at home. These professionals will be an invaluable resource in ensuring a comprehensive and well-rounded approach to social-emotional learning.

While SEL is a critical component of the school experience, it does not stop at the classroom door. Parents play an integral role in reinforcing these skills at home. This Fund-a-Need campaign will also focus on equipping our school and our families with tools, workshops, and guidance to create a unified approach to supporting students' social-emotional development. By strengthening the home-school partnership, we can ensure that students receive consistent support in developing the emotional and interpersonal skills they need to thrive. 

The ultimate goal of this initiative is to set our students up for success not only in their educational journeys but also in their personal lives. By addressing these challenges head-on, we can create an environment where students feel supported, understood, and equipped to flourish.

We invite you to join us in making this vision a reality. Your generosity during this year’s Gala will help us take meaningful steps toward bridging the social-emotional learning gap and giving our students the foundation they need to succeed. Together, we can make a lasting difference for our children, our school, and our community.