Clancy School day includes more than the three R’s

Granny’s Wacky Prizes, Spleems, Tootles and a vision board  — it’s an odd-sounding group of concepts, but they’re part of a social and emotional learning model called PAX that Jefferson County wants to implement in more of its elementary schools over the next three years. 

Currently, only Clancy Elementary School uses the PAX program, which focuses on enhancing social and emotional learning as a way to prevent negative behaviors — both in school and beyond.

The goal to implement PAX in two of the county’s six elementary schools by 2023 was included in the recently completed Jefferson County Community Health Improvement Plan, and is seen as a way to address the issue of mental health.