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May 30, 2019
"Kindness is the single most powerful thing we teach children."
Spring 2019
Dear IHM Families and Friends,
It is the middle of May and we only have about 4 weeks left of our 2018-2019 school year. I wanted to take a few minutes to let you know that we are still going full steam here at IHM so that you can help your students maintain that final push. Once the weather gets nicer and the days are longer, it is easy for them to shift their focus away from school. Do what you can to give them that burst of energy to finish strong.
Did any of you see the Diane Sawyer special on ABC last week called “Screen Time”? It was excellent; very informative and well researched. Don’t worry, it did not say that we all have to stop using our devices, but it did explain a lot of the science behind their usage and gave us advice on how we can use them in a healthier manner. You can search for the show with your On Demand widget or You Tube. I would really suggest that you watch the entire show with your children. If you can’t figure out how to find it, just ask your child and they will pull it up for you in seconds. It is well worth the time to watch it. We want to be up to date and mindful while we teach our children to be the same.
Some of you may know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I talk frequently to your children about how to maintain good mental health, but this month I also spoke to the faculty. The Archdiocese asked all of their counselors to speak to their faculty and update them on the facts around Depression Awareness and Suicide Awareness. The data surrounding the number of students that suffer with depression, or are feeling suicidal, is absolutely staggering. We need to make sure that we are in touch with our children and that we can provide them with the resources needed to support them. As always, please contact me or your child’s teacher if you have any concerns.
Another area I speak to your children about is building character and moral strength. As you know, your children are bombarded with information and influences that can easily steer them along a dangerous or unsettling path. Because we can’t be with them every minute of the day, I talk to them about moral courage and how to make a good decision. Like anything you are trying to strengthen, such as your muscles, you need consistent exercise to maintain strength. Look for daily opportunities to teach your child how to do the right thing and give it a name, whether you use the words “moral strength”, “moral courage”, “character” or another synonym, just find something that will stick. You already do it every day anyway, but giving it a name makes it more obvious and ties your lessons together. The more you practice anything the correct way, the better you become at that skill. What once was a heavy barbell feels easier to lift the more you practice. Helping your child to practice being accountable and building good character will also begin to feel easier for them.
Let’s take these last few weeks to round out our year on a positive note. Let your children know how proud of them you are and what a blessing they are in your lives. We here at IHM feel blessed to have them cross our paths and we thank you for that opportunity.
Until next time, remember to take care of yourselves and each other and to always say your prayers.
Siobhán Powers School Counselor
December 2018
Dear IHM Families and Friends,
Within a few short weeks we will be celebrating the holy season of Christmas and reflecting on ways that we ourselves can become more Christlike; more kind, more patient, more giving of ourselves and our time. Once in a while it is good to reboot how we are conducting our lives and Christmas is the perfect opportunity to do so.
Sometimes it is hard to slow down and I hear this said by many of our students. We feel pressure to accomplish and to produce, and in our efforts, we miss out on taking care of ourselves. There is an app called Calm.com that helps us to focus and relax in a variety of ways. Some of our students have found it very helpful to have guided breathing exercises, sounds of nature, sleep stories and quiet scenery at their fingertips. I have sent the app to our teachers for use in the classroom, as the app also has lessons for the classroom. This is just one of many apps out there that help us to dial things back a notch. Perhaps you have found one that works for you.
Currently, our younger students are busy preparing for the Christmas season and will be sharing some of their talents and excitement during the school pageant. I see their excitement and it helps me to stay grounded about what is really important in life. Being able to see the world through their eyes is such a blessing. To help them maintain their happy spirits, remember to keep holiday outings short for the little ones. All of the energy and change in schedules can take its toll. As much as is reasonable, try to keep a regular schedule allowing for plenty of time for sleep.
We just had a fabulous day of service here at IHM and I heard some insightful comments made by our older children. They are seeing how those outside of their circle may be in true need and their actions can truly make a difference in someone’s day. Sister Mary Catherine spoke to the children at the beginning of our day of service, and what I took away was how she gave the children so many ways to make the world a better place. Ask your child for some of the examples that she gave to them. She truly empowered them and let them see themselves as instrumental in how the world can be a better place for all. Sometimes it is hard to see yourself in this light as a middle school student. In October, I sent each of the middle school students the article ‘10 Truths Every Middle Schooler Should Know’. I have attached a copy of the article to this newsletter so that you can share what they received. With any of these links, Right click and then hit Open Link.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oP10gzDWpSWK0SswTFfcc27yZj6AlWZnb3jRo5RGKjM/edit?usp=sharing
A new facet of IHM is that we are working on becoming a Grief Sensitive School. New York Life Foundation came to our school as a community service and is guiding us in this process. The teachers will be looking at the materials provided to our school and we are also in the process of setting up a small library of resources provided to us by New York Life. A helpful site for you to explore is www.grievingstudents.org. Remember that grief is not just about death; it is about loss.
Lastly, mid-terms will be here before you know it for the upper grades. Attached are 2 links with some tips on how to prepare. Most important...get rest the night before. A rested mind yields more correct answers that a sleep deprived mind. Again, don’t ask me how I know this.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vpBZn6Mu2UoJMsS7pzO3eC1lG2mO7Ajf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/170OdrXhQ-id6liWXch0d2zUKK5LMIVnC/view?usp=sharing
Until next time, I am wishing you a peaceful and holy Christmas season with time put aside to rekindle your family bonds.
Take care of yourselves and each other, and always remember to pray.
Siobhán Powers School Counselor
Many of you have asked me for some Social Skills groups in the area. Please check out my list under the Resource tab.
CHECK OUT MY RESOURCE PAGE!!
"Kindness is the single most powerful thing we teach children."
Spring 2019
Dear IHM Families and Friends,
It is the middle of May and we only have about 4 weeks left of our 2018-2019 school year. I wanted to take a few minutes to let you know that we are still going full steam here at IHM so that you can help your students maintain that final push. Once the weather gets nicer and the days are longer, it is easy for them to shift their focus away from school. Do what you can to give them that burst of energy to finish strong.
Did any of you see the Diane Sawyer special on ABC last week called “Screen Time”? It was excellent; very informative and well researched. Don’t worry, it did not say that we all have to stop using our devices, but it did explain a lot of the science behind their usage and gave us advice on how we can use them in a healthier manner. You can search for the show with your On Demand widget or You Tube. I would really suggest that you watch the entire show with your children. If you can’t figure out how to find it, just ask your child and they will pull it up for you in seconds. It is well worth the time to watch it. We want to be up to date and mindful while we teach our children to be the same.
Some of you may know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I talk frequently to your children about how to maintain good mental health, but this month I also spoke to the faculty. The Archdiocese asked all of their counselors to speak to their faculty and update them on the facts around Depression Awareness and Suicide Awareness. The data surrounding the number of students that suffer with depression, or are feeling suicidal, is absolutely staggering. We need to make sure that we are in touch with our children and that we can provide them with the resources needed to support them. As always, please contact me or your child’s teacher if you have any concerns.
Another area I speak to your children about is building character and moral strength. As you know, your children are bombarded with information and influences that can easily steer them along a dangerous or unsettling path. Because we can’t be with them every minute of the day, I talk to them about moral courage and how to make a good decision. Like anything you are trying to strengthen, such as your muscles, you need consistent exercise to maintain strength. Look for daily opportunities to teach your child how to do the right thing and give it a name, whether you use the words “moral strength”, “moral courage”, “character” or another synonym, just find something that will stick. You already do it every day anyway, but giving it a name makes it more obvious and ties your lessons together. The more you practice anything the correct way, the better you become at that skill. What once was a heavy barbell feels easier to lift the more you practice. Helping your child to practice being accountable and building good character will also begin to feel easier for them.
Let’s take these last few weeks to round out our year on a positive note. Let your children know how proud of them you are and what a blessing they are in your lives. We here at IHM feel blessed to have them cross our paths and we thank you for that opportunity.
Until next time, remember to take care of yourselves and each other and to always say your prayers.
Siobhán Powers School Counselor
December 2018
Dear IHM Families and Friends,
Within a few short weeks we will be celebrating the holy season of Christmas and reflecting on ways that we ourselves can become more Christlike; more kind, more patient, more giving of ourselves and our time. Once in a while it is good to reboot how we are conducting our lives and Christmas is the perfect opportunity to do so.
Sometimes it is hard to slow down and I hear this said by many of our students. We feel pressure to accomplish and to produce, and in our efforts, we miss out on taking care of ourselves. There is an app called Calm.com that helps us to focus and relax in a variety of ways. Some of our students have found it very helpful to have guided breathing exercises, sounds of nature, sleep stories and quiet scenery at their fingertips. I have sent the app to our teachers for use in the classroom, as the app also has lessons for the classroom. This is just one of many apps out there that help us to dial things back a notch. Perhaps you have found one that works for you.
Currently, our younger students are busy preparing for the Christmas season and will be sharing some of their talents and excitement during the school pageant. I see their excitement and it helps me to stay grounded about what is really important in life. Being able to see the world through their eyes is such a blessing. To help them maintain their happy spirits, remember to keep holiday outings short for the little ones. All of the energy and change in schedules can take its toll. As much as is reasonable, try to keep a regular schedule allowing for plenty of time for sleep.
We just had a fabulous day of service here at IHM and I heard some insightful comments made by our older children. They are seeing how those outside of their circle may be in true need and their actions can truly make a difference in someone’s day. Sister Mary Catherine spoke to the children at the beginning of our day of service, and what I took away was how she gave the children so many ways to make the world a better place. Ask your child for some of the examples that she gave to them. She truly empowered them and let them see themselves as instrumental in how the world can be a better place for all. Sometimes it is hard to see yourself in this light as a middle school student. In October, I sent each of the middle school students the article ‘10 Truths Every Middle Schooler Should Know’. I have attached a copy of the article to this newsletter so that you can share what they received. With any of these links, Right click and then hit Open Link.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oP10gzDWpSWK0SswTFfcc27yZj6AlWZnb3jRo5RGKjM/edit?usp=sharing
A new facet of IHM is that we are working on becoming a Grief Sensitive School. New York Life Foundation came to our school as a community service and is guiding us in this process. The teachers will be looking at the materials provided to our school and we are also in the process of setting up a small library of resources provided to us by New York Life. A helpful site for you to explore is www.grievingstudents.org. Remember that grief is not just about death; it is about loss.
Lastly, mid-terms will be here before you know it for the upper grades. Attached are 2 links with some tips on how to prepare. Most important...get rest the night before. A rested mind yields more correct answers that a sleep deprived mind. Again, don’t ask me how I know this.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vpBZn6Mu2UoJMsS7pzO3eC1lG2mO7Ajf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/170OdrXhQ-id6liWXch0d2zUKK5LMIVnC/view?usp=sharing
Until next time, I am wishing you a peaceful and holy Christmas season with time put aside to rekindle your family bonds.
Take care of yourselves and each other, and always remember to pray.
Siobhán Powers School Counselor
Many of you have asked me for some Social Skills groups in the area. Please check out my list under the Resource tab.
CHECK OUT MY RESOURCE PAGE!!