Ariella Azaraf, ’05

Clinical Social Worker, Manhattan Day School

I am the clinical social worker at Manhattan Day School working with grades 4-8. During quarantine when all students were learning remotely, I organized a weekly social skills zoom meeting where students met to talk, process and hear what their peers have been up to during quarantine. I think it was very validating for many students to hear how others have been coping during this time apart. I also conducted a few parent sessions to best help parents learn how to manage their emotions and how to talk to children about the pandemic. The key part that helped me keep going when things were difficult was the fact that I was helping educate parents and children alike the importance of being mindful of their mental health. Helping them understand that it is important to pay attention to the way they think, feel and how that impacts the way they behave. I loved helping them healthy ways to cope.

My years at Ida Crown modeled what a warm school environment feels like. My friends and I still talk about our amazing memories from high school and the incredible relationships and friendships we built. As we grow up and navigate adult life, working in a school has brought back warm memories from high school. I strive to implement all the important lessons and values I learned during my years at Ida Crown in my life and in my role at Manhattan Day School.