To encourage dialogue and reflection about making connections and helping others, our question for this week is: What is one thing you can do each day to help others in our community? Fostering Connections (Week of 1/16/22) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Blake's Guiding Lights
Our Students
Blake's Core Values: Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness, Reflection
Our Essential Question: How can we cultivate and curate the progression of student learning and growth?
Our Mission: Blake Middle School believes in a living mission statement, based on the concept that our community seeks and respects knowledge, integrity, character, wisdom, and the willingness to adapt to a continually evolving world.
The most important attitude that can be formed is that of desire to go on learning. - John Dewey
You cannot teach today the same way you did yesterday to prepare students for tomorrow. - John Dewey
With our annual ‘no homework weekend’ for Blake this weekend, I hope that everyone was able to employ some of the mantras/practices of stepping back, ‘unplugging’, and making time for whatever it is that was needed. The frigid weather certainly helped us to ‘hunker down’ inside and relax a bit. Amidst a few basketball games, watching football, and cooking, it has served as a nice break. Monday’s Blood drive on the #dayofservice is a tradition that always brings forth a spirit and sense of community - big thanks to Cynthia for her passion, leadership, and efforts in bringing this to fruition. And, many thanks to our student volunteers and staff who have continued to support and participate both ‘behind the scenes’ and ‘in the scenes’.
Happy Students Are Motivated Students
by Andrew Bauld in Harvard Ed. Magazine
Research has shown that the strongest predictor of happiness — more than even money or physical health — is the strength of your social connections. That’s true for adults and children.
Now more than ever it is crucial to discover ways to encourage happiness and connection when so many are still apart, and Hinton says it doesn’t take that much to do. “You can do really small things and they can have a big impact on happiness.” Some of her suggestions include:
- Find the right balance of challenge.
- Provide social connection.
- Help students to flourish.
- Practice gratitude.
- Support others.
- Incorporate humor.
- Practice gratitude.
Sampling of Responses from Last Week’s ‘Question of the Week’: What are the current ways that you take time for yourself for self-care?
- I read books to myself.
- I make sure to have some free time to myself to just relax and chill
- I make sure to limit my screen time and take some time to read a book or hang out with friends.
- I workout
- Taking a moment to breathe
- I read when I need time alone.
- I go on the treadmill, go for a walk, or talk to a friend.
- I make a nice hot-chocolate!
- Sleeping a lot to get rest :)
- I go down to the basement by myself and just hit baseballs off the tee
- Exercising, eating well, and getting a good night's sleep.
- Before I go to bed I have this whole routine involving the basics, as well as yoga and taking care of my hands and feet. In the morning I usually stretch right after I get up and maybe do a dance or two to get moving.
- I like to do face masks at the end of the night. I do this because this is relaxing for me.
- I’ve started painting with watercolors:)
- I like to sit down on my bed and read
- I volunteer to do the errands so that I can listen to my audiobook in the car.
- I eat healthy and take care of myself mentally and physically
- When I am not feeling good, like sore muscles or headaches, I don't push doing extra work or working out. Instead, I relax and hydrate. It might feel lazy at first, but everyone needs one of those days to unwind from stress.
- I make sure to spend an extra fifteen minutes before bed reflecting and thinking about myself.
- Go for a run
- At night sometimes I do calming meditations to calm myself before going to sleep
- I play hockey on my front yard rink
- I like to read
- Writing
- Yoga with Adrienne 30 Day Yoga Challenge
- The ways I take time for myself is running
** These were shared last year as well…
“So even though we face difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.”
“Find a voice in a whisper.”
“There is no such thing as separate but equal. Separation, segregation, inevitably makes for inequality.”
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
As always, let me know of any questions/concerns.
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Take care.
Nat