April 26, 2020
Dear Quashnet School Community,
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| Quashnet Garden |
It is hard to imagine that this is the start of the seventh week without seeing our amazing students. I miss the smiles, the laughter, the conversations, the thoughtful discussions, yes, and even the problem-solving meetings to resolve conflicts.
As a staff, we have been meeting on Zoom all together and in small groups. We plan together. We work to streamline assignments and organize Google Classrooms. During staff meetings, we discuss how best to support students and try to find the right balance in connecting with students and families. Each family's needs are different, some folks are working others are not, some have one child others have more, some students are independent workers and others need adult support. Please know, the intent of reaching out is to support learning and engagement. We are here for you. We are 7 weeks in on virtual learning and 7 more weeks to go. Thank you always for your support and partnership in this year's teaching and learning adventure! Never hesitate to reach out.
We had an appeal from the Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley to spread the word about the U.S. Census. Many people have not yet completed the census survey. The census is crucial to school funding. If you haven't done so already, please take the time to complete the U.S. Census at my2020census.gov.
The following tips and links are from The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. Kindness makes those giving it and those receiving feel better. Thank you, Mrs. Rastallis, for sharing this great resource and thinking of others - another random act of kindness from a very caring teacher!
1. Maintain a sleep schedule and manage your hygiene. This may be difficult for those working on the front lines, but remember that sleep is critical to wellness. Getting enough continuous sleep is so important! Keep up with your hygiene habits. Get showered, brush your teeth, wash your face, wear something other than pajamas, and include bright colors in your wardrobe. get-enough-sleep
2. Do good for others! When we help others and increase altruistic behavior, we are doing good for ourselves. There is a lot of evidence about the science of doing good and why it benefits our health. Make sure that while taking care of yourself, you're doing what you can to support others. the-science-of-kindness
3. Get outside. Go for a walk. Play frisbee. Plant some flowers. Try to go for at least 30 minutes. If you can't go outside, open the windows. Get fresh air and sunshine. Vitamin D is so important to our physical and mental health. Soak up some rays! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
4. Connect with others. Use your phone and platforms like FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom to talk to family and friends. Share how you're feeling and actively listen to others when they share how they are feeling.
5. Spend a little extra time with your children and/or pets. They may be confused or scared. This is a great time to build stronger connections with those around you. It is so important to keep kids on a schedule as well. Let your children help with creating a daily schedule that includes academics, exercise, creative time, quiet time, and time to connect with friends.
6. Drink lots of water! Eat healthy. Often, during stressful times we over-indulge and don't maintain a healthy diet. Use this time to re-evaluate your diet and try new recipes! https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy/packages/healthy-every-week/healthy-mains/foodnetwork-most-saved-healthy-recipes
7. Develop a self-care plan for yourself. Consider strategies that are proven to work well for many. Listen to music you love, write in a journal, or read a book. When was the last time you colored something? Get our crayons and colored pencils and color a picture. Take a long warm bath. Start a craft project. Organize a room. Do it and pat yourself on the back for taking care of yourself. randomactsofkindness.org/downloads/coloring_pages
8. Be Kind. Everyone is doing their best right now. It is easy to be judgemental of how others are handling this challenging time, but know that we all operate differently. Offer a bit of grace to others during this time. Notice all the good things happening in the world right now. There are a ton of great things...just do a search online for "good news during COVID-19" and you'll find a lot.
9. Find a reason to smile every day. In fact, find a way to generate a good hearty belly laugh every day. It does a body good. mayoclinic.org/stress-management/stress-relief/art-
10. Be grateful. There is SO MUCH to be grateful for right now. Practicing gratitude builds resilience and helps us through the toughest times. Find three things every day that you are grateful for and write them down. Put the lists in a jar and look at your lists months from now to remind you of all the little reasons you were able to get through this period. how_gratitude_can_help_you_through_hard_times
We can do this if we keep a routine of love, laughter, and beauty at the forefront." From the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
The Quashnet garden in bloom! Look for the beauty around us.
I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and well. Stay connected Quashnet Community - we are in this together.
Respectfully,
Principal O'Brien
"One of the things we know about times of crisis is that sticking to a routine is crucial to our own mental health. So, we've put together 10 tips on how to maintain a routine during difficult times:
1. Maintain a sleep schedule and manage your hygiene. This may be difficult for those working on the front lines, but remember that sleep is critical to wellness. Getting enough continuous sleep is so important! Keep up with your hygiene habits. Get showered, brush your teeth, wash your face, wear something other than pajamas, and include bright colors in your wardrobe. get-enough-sleep
2. Do good for others! When we help others and increase altruistic behavior, we are doing good for ourselves. There is a lot of evidence about the science of doing good and why it benefits our health. Make sure that while taking care of yourself, you're doing what you can to support others. the-science-of-kindness
3. Get outside. Go for a walk. Play frisbee. Plant some flowers. Try to go for at least 30 minutes. If you can't go outside, open the windows. Get fresh air and sunshine. Vitamin D is so important to our physical and mental health. Soak up some rays! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
4. Connect with others. Use your phone and platforms like FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom to talk to family and friends. Share how you're feeling and actively listen to others when they share how they are feeling.
5. Spend a little extra time with your children and/or pets. They may be confused or scared. This is a great time to build stronger connections with those around you. It is so important to keep kids on a schedule as well. Let your children help with creating a daily schedule that includes academics, exercise, creative time, quiet time, and time to connect with friends.
6. Drink lots of water! Eat healthy. Often, during stressful times we over-indulge and don't maintain a healthy diet. Use this time to re-evaluate your diet and try new recipes! https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy/packages/healthy-every-week/healthy-mains/foodnetwork-most-saved-healthy-recipes
7. Develop a self-care plan for yourself. Consider strategies that are proven to work well for many. Listen to music you love, write in a journal, or read a book. When was the last time you colored something? Get our crayons and colored pencils and color a picture. Take a long warm bath. Start a craft project. Organize a room. Do it and pat yourself on the back for taking care of yourself. randomactsofkindness.org/downloads/coloring_pages
8. Be Kind. Everyone is doing their best right now. It is easy to be judgemental of how others are handling this challenging time, but know that we all operate differently. Offer a bit of grace to others during this time. Notice all the good things happening in the world right now. There are a ton of great things...just do a search online for "good news during COVID-19" and you'll find a lot.
9. Find a reason to smile every day. In fact, find a way to generate a good hearty belly laugh every day. It does a body good. mayoclinic.org/stress-management/stress-relief/art-
10. Be grateful. There is SO MUCH to be grateful for right now. Practicing gratitude builds resilience and helps us through the toughest times. Find three things every day that you are grateful for and write them down. Put the lists in a jar and look at your lists months from now to remind you of all the little reasons you were able to get through this period. how_gratitude_can_help_you_through_hard_times
We can do this if we keep a routine of love, laughter, and beauty at the forefront." From the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
The Quashnet garden in bloom! Look for the beauty around us.
I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and well. Stay connected Quashnet Community - we are in this together.
Respectfully,
Principal O'Brien
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