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Mrs. Cundari's Advocacy

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May Advocacy Newsletter_Wellness_WeekFour

For our final Advocacy newsletter, we would like to end our month-long focus on wellness with the themes of service and hope. Resiliency and empowerment grow when people are given the chance to help and make a difference. We have a unique opportunity to encourage students (and each other) to be helpers in our community. 

In Advocacy this year, students have learned about and practiced skills related to self-awareness, self-regulation, bullying prevention, optimism, gratitude, mindfulness, self-compassion, healthy relationships, growth mindset, environmental appreciation, and finally, wellness. As we conclude the school year, let’s take all of these lessons and put them into action! In this newsletter you will find a note from Ms. Novak and Ms. Valenza as well as links to local volunteer opportunities, a message of optimism and an article that makes the connection between "good deeds" and "feel goods." 

 

It has been an honor to share in social emotional learning with you all this year, and we wish you the best this summer. We can't wait to connect in the fall! Until then, remember that you can access the Social-Emotional Resources Page  for resources found in the May wellness newsletters. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Ms. Novak, Ms. Valenza, Ms. Washington, Mr. Chermak and Mr. Rowan

May Advocacy Newsletter_Wellness_WeekThree

As we continue to uncover the vast and complex topic of Wellness, it is important we continue to acknowledge that maintaining wellness during a global pandemic brings forth unique and unknown challenges. We are five weeks into distance learning and the routines are set, but even though there is a lot to do, we may be a feeling that things are getting to be “too routine” and the repetition is getting, well, boring. Boredom is not just a lack of something to do–because there is always something to do–but our inability to find meaning in a task and to pay attention to it.

With some of us now spending a lot of our time at or around home, where we used to find meaning– our friends, our work, school, clubs, going out to dinner, shopping or the movies–is no longer an option. But it’s just as likely that pandemic anxiety has also been shortening our attention spans. I like to think of boredom as a mindset where we are bogged down by our thoughts and can’t think of something fun to do. This can limit our thinking and lead to our attention wandering, having a lack of interest and feeling empty, tired and restless.

Luckily, we have the ability change our mindset and think about boredom in a whole new way. Crisis can bring out hidden reserves of human resourcefulness and times of struggle can bring out innovative solutions; constraints activate flexibility and scarcity of resources increases our creativity. If we let it, our boredom can help us be resourceful with what we have, it can lead to finding creative ways of seeing the routine in new and different ways, we can unplug and daydream, we can check in with ourselves and reflect on who we are, how we are feeling and find ways we can practice ways of being more resilient when we want to give up. So remember, boredom is ok and can be a good thing! So if you are feeling bored, 1) try to say to yourself, ”It is ok to be bored. How might boredom be a good thing?" 2) Try something totally new this week. 3) Check in with our feelings and see what you need. Get creative and feel free to share a picture with me about what you did as a boredom buster at [email protected]

May Advocacy Newsletter_Wellness_WeekTwo

Thank you all for joining Westgate on our wellness journey in Advocacy this month! Advocacy is a cornerstone for Westgate’s program because we believe that all people thrive when their social emotional needs are being met. We hope to help our students build social emotional skills, learn to connect their bodies and brains through physical wellness, and build and maintain powerful community relationships. Physical, mental and emotional wellness is the foundation of this work.

 

In this newsletter, you will find a message from Ms. Novak around wellness and the changes we are all experiencing. You will also find links to different workbooks, cards and activities that can help you and your family identify and work through emotions and engage in self-care. I have also left links to the wellness BINGO cards and the Virtual Calming Room. We hope you have time to engage in these activities by yourself or together, and know that we can make it through the Pandemic and Distance Learning together. #bettertogether

Specials Update

Wow, the time flies!  We are starting new specials rotations this week, so here is an update that didn't make it into this week's newsletter.
•Cundari – Tech
•Sanders – Art
•Dewar –  PE
•Manning – Music

Week of May 4

This week's newsletter has been sent out and is posted here as well.
 
You will also find a newsletter from Mr. Rowan with some activity ideas for this month's Advocacy theme: Wellness.  I encourage you to check it out!
 
For Wednesday's Advocacy meeting, students are encouraged to build a blanket fort to hang out in during this Zoom session, and bring a spooky (or not) story to share with the group.
 
For Thursday's Advocacy meeting, I'm looking for a student leader.  Interested students should send me an email including an activity or theme idea for the meeting and why he or she would be a good leader for the meeting.  At the end of the day Wednesday, I will look through the "applications" I have received, and send an email to all "applicants" letting them know who I have selected for this week.
 

Week of April 27 - Activity Ideas from Ms. Valenza

Dear 5-6 families,  

This week is the end of April, the end “Earth Month.” I don’t see it like that. I see it as a path to greener ideas, simpler ways of living, and a heightened awareness of the beauty in our natural world.  

I hope you enjoyed doing these activities. It was a lot of fun to put together and I thoroughly enjoyed staying connected with you this month.  

I’m here if you need me. Nature is also always there if you need it.  

I hope you have a great week.  

Best, 

Mrs. Valenza  

 

             5th & 6th Grade Activities 

Monday - Watch any of these Ted talks about “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” to get inspired.  

Tuesday - Head to Mrs. Valenza’s Staff profile page to hear her reading from Our Only World by Wendell Berry.  

Wednesday - It has been hard to not be able to go where you want, see who you want, when you want. Today make a list, journal, or draw a picture about all the places you want to visit once the “Stay at home” order has been lifted. Hopefully this will keep your spirits lifted and remind you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Share your list with someone you trust.  

                For Mrs. Valenza, she wants to go camping in Moab, have a picnic at Chautauqua, and buy a plane ticket to go see humpack whales in Hawaii.  

Thursday – Today, go outside! Here are a few ideas: You could build a bee water station -->  https://carolinahoneybees.com/diy-bee-waterer/ 

Add some pollinator plants to your yard or porch. Call your local nursery to see if they have any of these plants --> https://resourcecentral.org/5-plants-for-your-colorado-pollinator-garden/ 

Have a picnic outside.  

Just sit on your porch and watch the world pass by.