Hi Wings Families & Caregivers, |
We hope students enjoyed their long weekend and managed to enjoy the snow and tolerable weather! It was nice to see a little sunshine on Sunday and a bit warmer temperature. It looks like the week ahead is going to warm up, and potential rain is in the long-range forecast. This will mean mud and wet snow gear. Please be sure to send an extra change of clothing! |
January 22 – 26 is Mental Health Anti-Stigma Week. Various classes will be having discussions and lessons around mental health and mental health illnesses and encourage help-seeking amongst young people. On Thursday, January 25th it is Bell Let’s Talk Day and students are encouraged to wear blue. Please check out https://letstalk.bell.ca for additional information on facts and how you can help someone. You can also check out our School Board website for curriculum taught around the topic of Mental Health. Mental Health & Well-Being (wcdsb.ca) |
Here are some tips to promote good mental health practices: |
- Spend time doing something you enjoy. This activity can be done on your own or with a group of people.
- Take breaks. Give yourself permission to rest and relax. Doing “nothing” is actually doing something. It’s helping you build your strength for the next challenge.
- Help others. When you take time to be kind to others or get involved in something bigger than yourself, it can give your mental health a boost. Small things that don’t take a lot of your energy can sometimes make a huge difference to someone else. Say “hi” to someone new in the halls, invite someone to sit with you at lunch, hold the door open for someone, and see if it gives you a lift too.
- Be grateful and notice the good things. It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives that happen in life. Instead, look for the positives each day, even in situations that might seem bad. When negative things happen, ask yourself what lesson you can learn from it.
- Get sleep. We know school starts early and you may like staying up late, so you might not get enough sleep all the time. But aim to get 8 or more hours of sleep most nights.
- Try to increase your water intake – carry a water bottle with you so you can stay hydrated throughout the day. Consider decreasing or discontinuing your caffeine intake – caffeine has been shown to create a stress reaction in your body and might cause you to feel nervous, irritable or restless.
- Fuel yourself well. Sometimes it helps to have a healthy snack nearby so you can refuel easily and avoid getting “hangry”.
- Try to limit screen time. Research has linked social media use with mental health issues – you’ve probably heard this before. Using social media can cause us to compare ourselves… we do this without noticing, so it can be hard to stop. Many cell phones let you set timers on apps to help you limit how much you use them.
- Move! Physical activity is good for our mental health. It can be as simple as taking a walk or joining an activity at school – it’s a great way to meet people who you can be active with.
Family Literacy Day
January 27th – Are you familiar with Family Literacy Day? Since 1999, schools, libraries, literacy groups, and families have all celebrated this awareness initiative that aims to encourage reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. This year’s theme is “Let’s have a family party!” To learn more about Family Literacy Day, visit Family Literacy Day 2024 | abclifeliteracy.ca
Winter Walk Day: February 7th
WCDSB School Climate Survey
Staffing
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