Self-Care

Life in general can be stressful, and I think that is especially true in the education field.  We all have chosen education because of our strong desire to serve others. Too often, we are forgetting to take care of ourselves.  I am reminded of the words of Jules Alverado, "I cannot give away that which is not mine to give."  She reminds us if we do not take care of ourselves, we are not going to be able to fully help others.  So how can we do this?   Here are a few ideas about how we can learn to self-care/regulate: 

     * Meditation.  Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain's neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress.
     * Breathe Deeply.  Slowly inhale through your nose, feeling the breath start in your abdomen and work to the top of your head.  This practice counters stress by slowing heart rate & lowering your blood pressure.
    * Be Present.  Slow Down.  Spend time in the moment focusing on your senses, you should feel less tense.
    * Reach Out.  Talk to others, preferably face-to-face or on the phone.
    * Laugh out Loud.  Laughing lowers cortisol, your body's stress hormone & boosts feel-good brain chemicals, endorphins.
    * Get Moving.   Exercise can ease depression and anxiety by releasing endorphins as well. Take a short walk around the track, shoulder rolls or stretching can be helpful!
    *  Be Grateful.  Keep a journal or note pad to write down the good things in life.

Together, we can make this a focus and continue to lead low and slow lives that can be helpful to our community!


Important School Notes:

* Faculty Meeting - We will have our first Faculty Meeting on Tuesday, August 28th at 7:20 a.m. in the high school library.  You may want to bring your computers.  A light breakfast will be served! 

*Suicide/Mental Health Awareness - Thanks to Kelly, Lauren, Brittany and Maria our students will be getting some Suicide/Mental Health training on Tuesday during their English classes.  We appreciate their efforts during this busy time!  

* Vocational Teacher Meeting - Our Vocational Director, Jarred Howard will be here on Friday, August 31st during 1st lunch to update us on Perkins Money and other vocational information.  We will meet in Josh Craney's room.  If you need help with WIN coverage, please let me know.

* Virtual/PD Day:  On September 4th, students will have a virtual day and teachers will come to school for professional development.  Teachers should give out virtual assignments on Friday, August 31st.  Please remember that assignments should not be due for at least 1-2 days after students return to campus to ensure they have had the resources to complete the work.  A professional development schedule will be coming soon!

* Parent-Teacher Conferences:  We will host Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, September 20th.  Students will be released at 1:00 p.m. and conferences will run from 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.

* SAT/ACT Prep Class:  Mr. Linne and Ms. Petty will be offering free ACT/SAT prep classes before school starting this week!  Ms. Petty will teach English on Tuesday mornings and Mr. Linne, math, on Wednesday mornings from 7:05-7:55 a.m.  Please encourage your students to take advantage of this!

Important Dates: 

Tuesday, August 28 -  Faculty Meeting 7:20 a.m./  Varsity Volleyball @ NE Dubois  5:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 30 - Varsity Volleyball @ Home 5:30 p.m.

Friday, August 31 - Fall Homecoming Varsity Football @ Home (Active and Retired Military will get in free!) /

Tuesday, September 4 - Virtual Day for students/PD for teachers   8:00 - 3:00