Dealing with Christmas Anxiety, Stress and Back to School...

REPRINT: Because it's timely:

First published by me December 2016.


While some of us hate to admit it - routines are good for us. Routines give us a self-confidence that some may not fully grasp. A routine, from my research, reading and own experience, allows us to have self-confidence in knowing what is going to come next. Knowing what is coming next allows us to move with a higher amount of self-confidence and self-assurance.

Having said that, we LOVE holidays. We LOVE sleeping in. We LOVE staying up all night watching movies. And basically we LOVE giving up our routine. Well... at least I do! The giving up of our routine feels great... but it makes it hard to get back into the routine when the holidays are over. For those who deal with anxiety the switch over can be even more difficult. While routine is good for us, breaking routine and then having to work back into it is difficult even for those who do not struggle with anxiety. We dread it. We complain about it. We drag our feet getting out of bed. I think that's called being human.

There is good news however. There are things that each of us can do to help us get back into routine with out sending our anxiety sky-rocketing through the roof (like Santa's reindeer). These are also great ideas even if we don't struggle with anxiety.

Here is a short list of things that can help make the transition back into the routine of doing school easier:
*Eating properly.
*Getting exercise (even though we may hate exercising).
*Starting to go to bed at a regular time a day or two (or more) before the break ends.
*Getting up at the time we need to for school for at least a couple of days before going back. (Personally, I balance out the getting up early with a nap later in the day - one of the added benefits of holidays.)
*Starting to think about school and the upcoming semester end assessments.

Here are a few links that may be helpful if you are looking for more information:

The following two are Canadian sources. They deal with returning to school after summer holidays but are good articles and can relate to the Christmas break as well.

CBC's Back to School Advice
Coping with Back to School Anxiety - Anxiety BC

Anxiety BC has a number of great resources for parents and youth online. Please check it out if you are looking for more relevant information. Here is a link to their Anxiety 101 page. Anxiety 101: What You and Your Child Need to Know About Anxiety

If your child's anxiety is a concern (seems more serious than normal every day anxiety) please seek medical attention through your family doctor or a therapist. These articles are meant to help but can not replace medical help if it is required.


** Please note... All pictures are my pictures. Please do not copy and use for anything without permission. Thank you.

Peace on Earth - Or Something Like That!

Christmas is just around the corner. Christmas music is starting to play. Whether you see Christmas as a religious holiday, a secular event or a money grab by the stores the tell-tale signs are all around us. One of the things that you may see are signs or displays that include the word PEACE. So let's talk about PEACE for a few minutes.

I spent a day last week learning about the topic of Peace Literacy and what exactly that means. I think if you look around you will see lots of activity. You may also see, or hear of, chaos (think Black Friday shopping), violence (news reports etc.) and hateful words and actions (more news and social media).  But how often do we see and hear things that remind us of peace?  When do we feel peace? Or when do we feel peaceful?

Paul K. Chappell is the Peace Leadership Director for the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Yep - that is a mouthful of a title. He is a graduate of West Point and is a veteran of the war in Iraq. He is an author of a seven book series called The Road to Peace and is the creator of the idea of Peace Literacy. You can read more about him on Peace Literacy

I spent a day listening to Paul. He is passionate about peace and has so many interesting ideas about why we need to teach Peace Literacy. He believes it needs to be taught just like we teach literacy, numeracy, how to play an instrument, how to play a game and anything else we teach and learn.

Here are some of his ideas - just to give you something to think about in this busy time of year. If you want to explore the topic further you can check out his books or the website Peace Literacy

Chappell says that we have Nine Non-Physical Needs that need to be met in order for us to be able to work towards Peace. Below you will find a list of what Chappell calls our nine non-physical needs with a brief explanation in my words.

1. Purpose and Meaning - we actually need a reason to get out of bed
2. Nurturing Relationships - we need to have relationships with people we can trust
3. Explanations - we need to know why? why is the sky blue? why is it cold in winter? 
4. Expression - we need to express ourselves - art, music, sport, clothing
5. Inspiration - we need role models - to positively inspire us
6. Belonging - we need to be part of something bigger than ourselves
7. Self-worth - we need to believe in ourselves, recognize our good qualities
8. Challenge - we need to challenge ourselves, get better at something, learn something new
9. Transcendence - we need to be able to work through our emotions (like fear) with the help of those around us. 

So what? Why would I write a blog about this? Who cares? 

Well in short - to give you something to think about. How are you doing in these non-physical needs? Are they being met? Are you helping to fulfill these needs for other people? Can you be trusted? Do you trust others? Who is inspiring you? Are you an inspiration to others? If so, are you a positive or negative inspiration? 

At this busy time of year, maybe each one of us can take a moment to think about PEACE in our homes, schools, community, province, country and the world. And maybe, we can strive to bring  a little bit of peace to our world. Whatever our world may look like. Maybe we can look at those nine non-physical needs and work on them in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

So at this time of the year: May there be Peace on Earth and Peace in your life!

For more information check out the website: peace literacy: a skillset for the 21st century by clicking this link: https://www.peaceliteracy.org/

To Graduation and Beyond - Part 2

Wow... Two months into grade 12. Fall is here... and maybe winter too...

Maybe it's kind of overwhelming. Maybe exciting. Maybe just too much. But here we still go...

So far this year we've formed a grad committee, had one grad meeting, celebrated last years awards, learned a great deal at Options and maybe have more questions than answers. Some of you have written your first university exam. Some of you have written your first university paper. Some of you played your first girls hockey game. Some of you played your first volleyball game of you last year in high school.

Some of you ... well... the list is long and that is just school stuff. Let's not overwhelm ourselves by thinking about the part-time job that feels full-time, the family stuff, the relationship stuff and the friend stuff.

So here is a reminder from the last blog:

Breath!

Take it all in!

Relax!

Enjoy!

Work Hard!

Now let's talk about what else you may want to add to that repertoire.

Ask Questions!

Ask Those Questions Again!

Explore Your Options!

Participate!

Ask Questions: Go see your teachers and ask questions if you don't understand something in class.(this will help you successfully finish all of your grade 12 credits - it's also a good tip for when you enter university or college). Both in high school and in university or college, asking questions one-on-one allows you to have a better understanding of content and expectations. However, it has another benefit. It allows the teacher or prof to get to know you and that is a good thing, especially in a large school or university. It puts a face to the name and that generally gives you a leg up. (an advantage)

If something is unclear in a university or college website or view book (or calendar as they are sometimes called), pick up the phone and ask. I always make sure I keep a record of the number I called, the person who answered and what they said. I do that so if I need to call back I can reference the conversation. It helps.


Ask Those Questions Again: If the answer is unclear, try asking the same question again. Or you can ask the question in a different way. Sometimes this actually allows you to get a better or clearer answer. Sometimes, depending on who you talk to, you may actually get a completely different answer. If that happens... ask more questions for clarity.

The people answering your questions may have misunderstood the question or understood it differently. The person also may know something new. Don't give up... Keep asking questions until it is clear to you.

Explore Your Options: Makes sense. Maybe. Maybe you KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that you KNOW you want to attend University of Manitoba to do that engineering or science or arts program. Maybe you have absolutely no doubt. But explore your options. Check out other programs. Look at other universities or colleges. Even if, in the end, you select that program at UM or which ever institution you have selected, it is good to know what your other options are.

And maybe, just maybe, while exploring your options you discover something you've never considered but catches your attention. Maybe it changes your current plan or maybe it gives you options to consider after you have completed the program you selected initially.

Participate: While all of this is going on, it is sometimes gets future focused. Don't forget to participate in your last year of high school. Sign up for a part of the grad fashion show, check out the National Universities Fair, hang out with your friends at school during spares, go to the volleyball, hockey, football and other sports games. Check out improv. Buy a ticket to the play. Go to the fall concert. Be present and participate in your final high school year.

So now your repertoire for this year is a bit longer. But it's worth it.

Breath!

Take it all in!

Relax!

  

 Enjoy!

Work Hard!

Ask Questions!

Ask Those Questions Again!

Explore Your Options!

Participate!

** grad fashion show pictures courtesy of Mr. Paul Reimer from the SRSS website - all other pictures taken by Ms Thiessen.  

To Graduation and Beyond

Welcome to Grade 12!!

This post is mainly for you the grade 12s at SRSS, however, there may be tips that go for all the returning students at SRSS.

Grade 12 is an EXCITING year. It can also be a SCARY year or an OVERWHELMING year.

Excitement comes from many things and events which are at times the "last" and sometimes brand new.

• last year in high school
• last year riding that big yellow bus
• last mandatory PE class
• last mandatory Math class, English class
• last... (fill in the blank)
• first graduation (unless you had a kindergarten or grade 9 grad)
• first time thinking about moving away from home (for most of you)

And the possible scariness of all the big decisions and new things to come.

• what do I do now?
• do I go to university? college? Bible school? 
• do I work for a year? or two? or forever?
• what do I want to be when I grow up?
• am I grown up now?
• what if I decide on something? and hate it?
• what? Why? Ahhhhhhh!!!???!!!

Let's start with this. 

Breath!

Take it all in!

Relax!

Enjoy!

Work Hard!

Breath: Let me assure you that you can do this! You have got this! and if you are struggling or have questions that's okay! Talk to your guidance counsellor. Talk to your parents or guardians. Talk to a trusted adult. Talk to a peer. And know this. It's never too late to make a new plan. Sometimes it will take some work... but most things are possible if you are willing to put in an effort.

Take it all in: Sometimes we get so busy thinking about the future and all the what ifs? and whys? and hows? that we forget to be present, to take it all in. We sometimes think we need to quickly get it done so we can get on with life. 

I want each of you to slow down and take it all in. Life is going to be different after grade 12 in many ways. So take the time this year to enjoy the things that are uniquely grade 12 and high school. Go to the sporting games, improv, plays, music performances. Support your friends in those things and allow them to support you in your extra-curricular endeavours.  Cheer on the team. Sing with the choir. Participate in spirit week, food drives, May Day Play Day. Build the memories. You won't have high school for a lifetime. But you can have the memories.

Relax: I am going to add a "but" to this one. Relax. Try not to stress. BUT - that doesn't mean you don't pay attention to deadlines and due dates. It means that you will need down time too. It can't be all school work and part-time jobs. You also need to build in down time. Time to hang out with friends. Time to read a book, go horseback riding, hike, bake, nap or whatever you down time activity is. Having that balance will allow you to do your best in school and keep you stress levels where they should be. 

Enjoy: Enjoy the little moments and the big moments. Don't spend your whole year looking forward to graduation day without taking the time to enjoy and reflect on the little moments throughout the year that get you to graduation. Celebrate the coffee that a friend gives you out of the blue. Tell jokes. Laugh. Send notes of appreciation to those who help you out - friends, parents, teacher, secretary, classmate... Take time to appreciate the things that make your day-to-day school experience better. 

Work Hard: Let's be honest. You still have to work hard. Your high school transcript will be with you for your life. (not saying you can't go back and add courses as an adult - but do you want to?) Many of you will be going on to trade schools, colleges, Bible schools and universities. Those institutions want to see what kind of a student you are - so marks count. Marks also count when it comes to scholarships and awards. Do your best right from the first day of school! 

And for those of you who think - "NOPE, not me. Never going back to school after I graduate". Let me tell you this - Sometimes our plans change and you may surprise yourself. So please, do your best, work hard right from the start. You may need that transcript some day and even if you don't... doing your best and working hard are good attributes to take with your for life. 

And finally HAVE A GREAT YEAR!

And So It Ends...

The date today is May 30. One month from now it's all done. Pass or Fail the year is over in a month. Only 13 days of classes left and then EXAMS. Then Graduation for those in grade 12.

Where did the year go? Who knows? But it is almost over.

So here it ends. The year comes to a close. My final words to you before it ends.

FINISH STRONG. 

DON'T GIVE UP.

You CAN do this.

I know. Sometimes, it looks dismal at this point. Sometimes, it feels hopeless. Sometimes, it's just soooo overwhelming.

BUT please, DON'T GIVE UP.

Some tips for finishing strong:

1. complete and hand in missing assignments.
2. prepare well for year end assessments - be they portfolios or exams
3. talk to your teachers NOW about what you can do to make sure you earn the credit
4. make a plan, one assignment at a time, to catch up - and stick to it as much as possible
5. plan in study breaks, because you can't do work and no play, just limit the play at least until the end of the school year
6. eat well
7. sleep well
8. attend every class from now until the end of the school year 
9. ask questions
10. seek guidance from your guidance counsellor

DON'T Give up! Finish STRONG!

Tips for Teens and Parents - Making the Most of Transition Times.

As many of you, who read this blog, know, I tend to be a wordy person. I like words! And, as my colleagues at my former school have said, I often will use a 100 words when 10 words would suffice.

Clearspring Middle School 

For my last Blog post I was going to have 10 tips... but I had so many words. I had to cut it down to 2 tips.

For today's blogpost, I am going to give you an abundance of tips. However, I am going to let you read them from people who are more succinct with their words than I am.

Kleefeld School (Grades K-9)

The first link: What to Know Before Getting to Highschool talks specifically about somethings students should know before the get to high school. Three that caught my attention - learning to take public transportation, pumping gas and advocating for themselves. There are other great ideas but these ring bells for me.


We don't have any public transportation here and I grew up in an even smaller town without public transportation. The first time I took a Winnipeg City bus to go to university it was quite a daunting task. The first time I took a subway in Toronto was equally overwhelming. However, those two experiences made it easier for me to navigate the public transportation system and metro in Ukraine even though I didn't speak the language. Maybe it's time for a family field trip to Winnipeg, park the car at a shopping centre and all explore how to take public transportation in Winnipeg including transferring buses. You may not need it today. But it may be very helpful when it's time to leave home and see the world - whether that world is Winnipeg or Paris or Moscow.

Winnipeg Transit - Try it out! 

Pumping gas is an important skill as well. I know we have many full-service gas stations around. However, if you travel outside our cozy corner of Southern Manitoba you may realize that isn't the case every where. Students, who later become young adults, should know which side of the vehicle the gas tank is located, how to get the nozzle in the car, how to turn on the pump and how to pay. It's kind of embarrassing when you are on a road trip and the only gas station available is self-serve and you don't have a hot clue how to use it. And... if you know how to fill up your parents' gas tank you may be able to get a job at a local gas station!! BONUS!

University of Manitoba

Last, but definitely not least, how to advocate for oneself. This is a skill we all need. Teaching your child at a younger age how to respectfully express their needs, their situation and the possible solutions is a great skill for them to have. Teenagers that can come into the guidance office, a teacher's classroom or a principal's office and advocate for themselves have learnt a valuable skill that will bode well for them their entire lives.


The next link is more for while you are in High School but are worth while skills for life. They include time management, goal setting, commitment and more - check them out.
Top 10 For High School Students

The book store at UM Fort Garry Campus

One of the tips that was very helpful for me as a country kid going to University in Winnipeg, was to spend a day just wandering around at the university during the summer, locating my classes, the bookstore, the coffee shops and where to pay my fees! Take the time to do that before university, college or Bible school starts.


And finally, the following link talks about happens next. How do you know you are ready to graduate? What can you expect. It has great pointers about measuring success (it's not all about the money) and somethings to expect after you graduate. Check it out here: I'm Graduating!!! Woohoo! Now What? 

Two Tips... Take Them or Leave Them

First, let me start by saying... WOW it's been awhile since my last blog... some days, weeks, months life just gets in the way. So, I hope this was worth the wait.

I am going to share with you two tips I have learned from my own life experience and being an educator for the past 27 years. So - yes that makes me old. However, it also means I have a great deal of experience that I am using to share these tips.

Here are 2 of my top tips for success... here at school and in life in general.

1. Always be willing to learn.

You may think this is obvious. Or you may disagree. But it is a key to life whether you are in school or if you are 82 - and any age in between. I am not talking about just learning through a text book or at school but truly learning.

And I'm going to add a part B to that tip. Be ready to learn and then sometimes unlearn or relearn.

I love learning. You may know that about me or may have read it in an earlier blog. Learning is a life skill and sometimes we close our minds to learning and just say "I can't" But for our own well-being and the well-being of those around us we need to turn that around and say "I'm going to try to learn this. I just don't know it yet. I can do this."

I recently learned to Skype and face-time. I know... simple things in your world. But they were kinda of weird, scary and useless and really "why would I need this skill?" However, my nieces and nephews are all far away and if I want to talk to them I need to know. I mean - what teenager wants to talk on the old touch-tone phone?

So I have learnt.

Simple?

Maybe? in your world.

But remember - I'm old. I went to university when I typed all my papers on a typewriter (Do you know what that is? Do you have any idea how tedious this was? ) I was pumped when finally they came out with a typewriter that allowed you to write one whole line before hitting enter and it printed it on to the page.

http://www.iretron.com/blog/posts/
technology-flashback-the-electronic-typewriter/

Think about that. I had to type 20 page papers one word at a time directly on to my sheet of paper. And if I messed up something or wanted to change something I couldn't just back space. Sometimes it meant retyping the whole 20 page paper. Think about that.

So yes - Learning how to Skype and Face-time - SCARY. WEIRD. POSSIBLY USELESS. But I did it.

I did it because learning is important. It is important for our whole lives - not just our school lives. And it's important that we have an attitude that says we can learn it even when it seems hard or challenging.

2. Safety First!

Okay - I know. Why is the guidance counsellor talking about safety? Well - because it is important. Whether we are talking about personal safety in daily tasks, internet safety, emotional safety or physical safety - Safety is important.

https://www.amazon.com/
Sunbeam-63019-Mandolin-Kitchen-Slicer
/dp/B000I17AFY

Small personal example because it's good to remember it only takes a second to make a bad decision that can affect our safety - in every one of those areas mentioned.

One morning, I was quickly putting together a potato casserole. I was using my mandolin - handy kitchen device with a safety guard. I sliced my first potato using the safety guard. And then, brilliantly, I decided I didn't need the guard for the second potato.

It was a spit second decision. I'm sure you can guess the end of the story. But let me just give you a picture and you can fill in the dots.

Small, quick decisions, sometimes have little or no impact on our lives. Sometimes those decisions can cause consequences that are minor, inconvenient or a nuisance. Sometimes decisions about our safety, that seem like minor decisions at the time, can have huge impacts that may last a lifetime and leave scars on our body, our mind and/or our heart.

So I am asking you to think safety first:

• before you send a text or snap chat
• before you send a picture
• before you consume an illegal substance or over the counter meds 
• before you get in a car with someone under the influence or before you drive a car under the influence (never ever do either of these - please)
• before you cross the street (make sure you look both ways)
• before you put yourself in a situation you can't get out of safely
• before... and the list goes on but I'll add one
• before you use that mandolin slicer without the safety guard... 😎

Those are my top two tips today. They may change. You are free to take them or leave them. However, I want you to know this. Each and everyone of you reading this has so much potential. You have the power, skills and abilities to make a difference in the world that is positive, helpful and good. You may not always feel that way. But you can make the choice to leave a positive mark on this world. I can't wait to see what you do with your lives - whether you are 16, 18, 25, 47, 68 or 93!