Fresh Sem, Ma’ayanot’s ninth grade social emotional learning group, is a hallmark of the Ma’ayanot experience. Each Fresh Sem group met weekly this semester, with the goal of creating deeper connections with classmates and teachers while having meaningful conversations about social, emotional and religious growth. Particularly during the ninth grade year, building relationships and creating a sense of belonging is such a critical component of academic and social emotional development. Sessions each week explored growth-oriented topics, such as fostering a culture of kindness, building empathy and stepping outside of your comfort zone. While the sessions are meaningful, there is plenty of time for fun. The  students participated in grade-wide team building, jumped into chesed projects and enjoyed being together and building new friendships.