About FORGE

A comprehensive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and leadership formation curriculum for grades 9-12

Program Overview

FORGE is a comprehensive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and leadership formation curriculum delivered to all students in grades 9–12 at Bishop Diego High School. Developed and facilitated by the school's Personal Counselor/Dean of Students, FORGE integrates affective neuroscience, attachment theory, and Christian Theology to foster emotional resilience, relational intelligence, and Christ-centered leadership.

Mission

FORGE integrates affective neuroscience, attachment theory, and Christian Theology to foster emotional resilience, relational intelligence, and Christ-centered leadership.

Vision

Help students feel deeply, think critically, relate compassionately, and lead courageously, empowering them to live out the Gospel through emotional maturity and personal virtue.

Catholic Foundation

Grounded in the Catholic vision of integral formation, FORGE is designed to form the whole person—mind, heart, and spirit. The curriculum directly supports key educational standards by embedding theological principles and promoting measurable growth in students' affective and interpersonal skills.

Delivery Model

🎯 Target Audience

All students (Grades 9–12)

📅 Frequency

Two 45-minute modules per grade level each academic year

🏫 Setting

Theology class periods

👥 Facilitator

Personal Counselor/Dean of Students

🎭 Format

Interactive lessons featuring small-group discussion, video clips, role-playing, and somatic-based SEL practices

Mission & Standards Alignment

CASEL's Five Core Competencies

Each module supports the development of Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making.

National Standards & Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools (NSBECS)

The program integrates Catholic Social Teaching and provides developmentally appropriate character formation.

WCEA & WASC Accreditation Criteria

FORGE contributes to accreditation by delivering a standards-aligned SEL curriculum integrated into core Theology classes, embedding Catholic identity, and cultivating a trauma-informed school environment.

Curricular Scope & Sequence

The following framework outlines the year-over-year progression of the FORGE curriculum:

Grade	Module Title	Description	CASEL Focus	CST Lens
9	Living Life in Color	Introduces the foundational concept that emotions are non-judgmental signals that lead to adaptive actions. Students learn to identify core emotions (anger, sadness, fear, joy), their corresponding signals, and their functions using the Zones of Regulation framework.	Self-Awareness, Self-Management	Dignity of the Human Person
	The Time-Traveling Emotional Brain	Explains how the emotional brain connects present sensory experiences to the past, creating emotional "triggers". Students explore the concepts of being "flooded" by past emotions and how unresolved "core memories" can impact present behavior and well-being.	Self-Awareness, Social Awareness	Healing Community
10	Understanding and Managing Anxiety	Provides psychoeducation on anxiety, distinguishing it from fear and stress. Students identify the physical sensations of anxiety, learn about the anxiety cycle and safety behaviors, and practice "Palm Tree Coping" skills to respond to triggers without avoidance.	Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making	Option for the Vulnerable
	Verbal Villains & Empathy	Equips students to recognize and replace communication patterns that block empathy ("Verbal Villains"). The module introduces and practices the "1, 2, 3's of Empathy"—Mirroring, Validation, and Empathy—to foster deeper connection and understanding.	Social Awareness, Relationship Skills	Call to Community
11	Relating Through Differences	Explores the 7 Motivational Gifts of the Father framework as a tool for understanding personal communication styles. Grounded in Romans 12:6-8, this session helps students identify their own personality-based gifts (Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouragement, Giving, Leadership, and Mercy) and learn to bridge communication gaps with others.	Social Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making	Solidarity
	9 Temperaments	Explains the nine dimensions of temperament as the "how" of personality—our natural way of reacting to environmental stimuli. Students identify their unique temperament profile to better understand their internal reactions.	Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making	Subsidiarity
12	Healthy Character I: Boundaries	Defines character as the capacity to face reality and introduces the Character Structure of Separation—the ability to be distinct from others and say "no". Students learn to establish healthy boundaries by taking responsibility for their own emotions, choices, and limits.	Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making	Rights & Responsibilities
	Healthy Character II: Facing Reality	Focuses on the Character Structure of Integration—the ability to embrace both positive and negative realities about oneself and life. This module teaches students to move beyond an "all-or-nothing" mindset by integrating painful and redemptive experiences with hope and self-compassion.	Self-Management, Social Awareness	Hope & Redemption

Program Impact

FORGE provides students with more than just emotional tools; it offers a theological and psychological framework for understanding themselves and their role in the world. By developing emotional literacy and self-regulation, the program enhances academic readiness and cultivates a more empathetic, trauma-informed school climate. Ultimately, FORGE prepares students to become servant-leaders and emotionally intelligent disciples who can live out the Gospel in a multicultural world.