Mental Wellness - MDHS    May 4th, 2020

It’s Mental Health Week!!!   Stay Connected to Your Social Supports

Kids Help Phone

Checklist for Wellness ❏ I try to stay present in the

moment ❏ I focus on what I can

control (instead of what I can’t)

❏ I get plenty of sleep & rest ❏ I do relaxing activities ❏ I listen to calming music ❏ I take warm bubble baths ❏ I challenge my negative

thoughts and use positive self-talk

❏ I give my body the nutrition it needs

❏ I focus on my strengths (and improving my weaknesses)

❏ I make self-care a priority every day

❏ I talk to someone I trust when I need help

TIK TOK Winners!! Choosing winners from the submissions was a very tough decision! We appreciate everyone who took the time to participate and have a little fun with this contest at home. Anyone who isn’t listed as a winner will receive a free slice of pizza once we are back at school. Dance Winners! (Two Way Split) #1 - Solo Dance by Calla Britton https://bit.ly/3bWWOz2 #1 - Family Dance by the Hope Sisters and dad https://bit.ly/2yiNOWj The Other Activities category had such diverse and creative entries that it was a very difficult decision. We ended up with one Grand prize and 3 honourable mentions. See all below. #1 - Katherine Kolkman - Watch the amazing and talented Juno!! https://bit.ly/2xrPXi7 Honourable Mentions

1) Ally McMann - Re-enactment of Mamma II Scene With sister Mikayla https://bit.ly/35njwxL (disclaimer; no alcohol was consumed in this video)

2) Emma Badley - Take a look at Brady and Mack and the other the baby chicks!

https://bit.ly/2SmgrJ5 Honourable Mention for Inspirational Video Rachel Mulholland https://bit.ly/2z5Zzze

Whenever you need to talk, they are open for you! Text 686868 Call 1-800-668-6868  

Mental Health Week

Challenge!! Submit a photo/video of yourself doing something good for your mental health and/or submit a motivational quote that makes you feel good. Send submissions to heather.cumming@ed.amdsb.ca. Prize for the top entry is a $10.00 Tim Horton’s gift card. Winner will be announced Friday on Instagram.

Ms. Cheskes enjoys her Tulip Row

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Steph and Maggie Phillips take long walks

Nature trails are the best!!

The beach brings good “feels”

JOSH FRENCH - releasing some energy at home

https://bit.ly/2xx1RHw

Watch for Mr. Moses and his weekly Fitness Challenge!! Check out the strength in his family push-up challenge!

Follow his instagram page for some healthy inspiration https://www.instagram.com/livewell4life/?hl=en

 

“Once you 

replace 

negative 

thoughts with 

positive ones, 

you will start  

to have 

positive  

results”

Page 3

MDHS School Nurse Support Available If you are feeling that you need to talk to someone and would like support from our school nurse, Amanda, she is going to be available during the week with limited school hours for students who feel they need to check in. You can contact Mr. Williams to find out when she might be able to connect with you. Send an email to dave.williams@ed.amdsb.ca and he will contact her for you to set up a convenient time to chat (via phone, email or text).

Social Distancing  Survival Guide 

  Without our regular ways to socialize, we now have to get creative when it comes to connecting with others. Make it part of your routine - Set a “social connection(s) time during the day. Make a time that you avoid all distractions and check in with others. Make a Date - Book a time for a conversation with someone. Message someone through email or text and set up a video chat time. Let yourself be vulnerable. If you are craving attention, let others know. Let them know you feel isolated. A deeper conversation will lead to a deeper relationship. Be honest! Practice Listening - Listening actively and giving the other person space to talk is the key to having a meaningful social interaction. Think Outside your Circle - Who has supported you in the past? This may be a time to reconnect. Plan a virtual event! - Use zoom to host a dinner party, game night, new music sharing, or a coffee/snack break. Be creative. There are hundreds of online portals and hubs to connect you to virtual and online support services such as online nurse, coaching and therapy. You can click to the Government of Canada’s Wellness Together portal to see what is offered https://ca.portal.gs/

(Above Information adapted from Canadian Mental Health Association, 2020)

Student Cooking Assignments

Does Joel Scarrow have a new career in television? “Cooking up a Storm” Check out his latest practical school assignment completed for his Foods class at MDHS. A true professional at work! https://bit.ly/3cooking

Do you want to get creative with technology? Mrs. Finklestin’s son, Quinn used the Stop Motion program to create a presentation for his assignment for Foods class. Watch his pizza come together in this video that he prepared at home!

https://bit.ly/3fcWONt

Page 4 Looking for something new for dinner?

Try this Tasty Taco Lasagna

Ingredients 1 lb. lean ground beef 1 large jar salsa 1 can green chilies ¼ sour cream 2 cups grated cheddar cheese 12 8-inch soft tortillas Sour Cream for topping Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9X9 baking dish with non-stick spray. Add the beef to a large skillet over medium heat and crumble as it cooks. Drain grease when cooked through. Dispose of grease. Add the salsa to the meat and stir to combine. Add the chilies and ¼ cup sour cream to the cooked meat mixture. Cut tortillas in half and place them in the baking dish with straight side against the side of the pan. Arrange to cover the bottom of pan, overlapping if necessary. Top with ⅓ of the meat mixture. Then add a layer of cheese. Repeat layers ending with a layer of tortillas on top. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 20-30 minutes until hot and melty. Slice into squares and serve with sour cream and other desired toppings.

What is Authentic Self-Care? We often confuse material or external substances as self-care. Self-care is not indulging ourselves with the immediate gratification of buying things, but is more about reflection, awareness and commitment. We could buy all the clothes that make us feel happy but is that long-term self-care? Self-care is digging a little deeper and being honest with ourselves about what is really nurturing for us. Honest reflection is essential. Sometimes this honesty in self-reflection can be difficult. It might even be painful as we toss off old perceptions or patterns that are not supporting our wholeness. We need more than bubble baths. Authentic self-care requires that we stay true to finding what serves our completeness. Think of how you would treat a small child, or a dear friend that you cherish. Self-care is showing up to yourself in the same way that you show up for someone that you love. (Adapted from School Mental Health Ontario, 2020)