Building awareness, purpose, and resilience for life.
At Leiria International School, our mission is to help every learner become the best version of themselves. Through our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programme, we nurture self-awareness, empathy, and resilience. SEL at LIS isn’t an occasional activity — it’s part of how we learn, lead, and live together every single day.
What is SEL?
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) empowers students to understand themselves, manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and make ethical decisions.
Our programme develops five essential competencies:
Self-awareness: understanding emotions, strengths, and values.
Self-management: managing stress, motivation, and focus.
Social awareness: showing empathy and respect for others.
Relationship skills: communicating, cooperating, and resolving conflict.
Responsible decision-making: making choices that reflect integrity and care.
In Secondary, SEL becomes a path toward self-leadership — helping students balance independence with connection and ambition with well-being.
Why SEL is so important?
Children who feel understood and valued are more open to learning and more capable of caring for others.
SEL nurtures confidence, empathy, and resilience — essential for well-being, academic growth, and healthy relationships.
At LIS Primary, we believe that teaching children how to be — kind, curious, and brave — is the foundation for everything else they’ll learn.
How We Implement SEL at LIS?
At LIS Lower Secondary, SEL is a daily practice that happens in advisory sessions, classroom learning, and community experiences.
Every week, students take part in SEL periods — moments to slow down, reflect, and talk about real challenges they face.
We discuss topics such as identity, stress management, friendship and empathy, mindset, failure, and digital responsibility.
Teachers facilitate conversations that encourage honest expression and perspective-taking. Students learn how to listen, challenge respectfully, and reflect on choices.
SEL also unfolds through:
Coaching and mentoring, where learners set goals and reflect on progress.
Service projects and leadership roles, putting empathy into action.
*CASEL Wheel
Collaborative learning and team challenges, where emotional intelligence meets problem-solving.
Well-being initiatives and student councils, creating a sense of belonging and voice.
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”