Recognizing the importance of social-emotional health of our students in the learning process, the Jim Thorpe Area School District is excited to announce its new social-emotional program, Rhithm. Rhithm is a daily emoji check-in system that provides teachers and administrators with the learning readiness pulse and well-being of their students and school. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, school districts across the state were required to address the social-emotional learning of its students and were provided with grant funds (ARP ESSER Funds) to help fund the initiative.

One of the realizations that came about with the pandemic was the awareness that our students’ and staff’s social and emotional needs are just as important as the educational needs.  Rhithm partners with schools to provide a simple online tool to support students’ feelings while equipping them with skills and strategies to be stronger learners.

Rhithm is a K-12 student and staff wellness check-in that helps identify a student’s readiness to learn at that moment in time based upon their feedback on a quick, five-point emoji based check-in. The emoji’s are grouped into five simple categories:  mental, emotional, energy, physical and social. The platform selects an age-appropriate 1-3 minute activity video to assist overall well-being based on the information gathered from this simple check-in.  Video topics include: Gratitude & Good Things, Visualizations, Calming Activities & Mindfulness, Focus Activities, and Movement and Stretching.

Listed below are the links that provide more information on the Rhithm program. Thanks for your support as the district “Gets into Rhithm”.  

• Rhithm Parent Letter

• Rhithm Parent video

• Rhithm Parent FAQ

• Rhithm Emoji Chart

Students will watch a video and learn how to login with their homeroom teachers and complete their first Rhithm check-in.  Rhithm will be part of students’ morning routine in homeroom or PODS and be completed on their school issued Apple device.  Students will only have access to Rhithm during the school day.   If you wish that your student does not participate in the program, you may opt-out your child from participation. Please contact your child’s school either by email, phone call or letter requesting that they not participate in Rhithm check-in’s.