NHMS SCHOOL COUNSELING QUARTER 2 NEWSLETTER

Stress Management The NHMS School Counseling Department issued an anonymous school-wide student survey in hopes to gain invaluable insight about how our students feel regarding their academics, personal/social struggles, and college/career exploration. The results of the survey confirmed that many of our students feel stressed or anxious at school, which hasn't gone unnoticed by school staff. Since the start of the school year, many staff members have inquired as to how they can assist students with stress/anxiety management within the classroom.

Community CollaborationIn an effort to address this need, the NHMS School Counseling Department reached out to the community and found a wellness professional with extensive knowledge and experience teaching yoga, mindfulness and meditation. In working with this wellness instructor, we organized a Professional Development workshop for our department and invited six teachers from the middle school to attend. Our instructor taught us numerous subtle stress management techniques that students and teachers can practice in the classroom on a daily basis. We have displayed posters of these techniques for students in the building and included three helpful tips for you too!

#1 Hand MudraTouch the tip of your thumb to the tip of your index finger, with the other 3 fingers gently stretched out. Do this consecutively with each of your 4 fingers while saying to yourself: "I--can--do--this," "I--am--oh--kay."

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Holiday Assistance

For some families, the holiday season may represent a time when extra help is needed to make their celebrations special. Financial hardship can make the holidays stressful for families, which is why it is important to know there are community resources available to North Haven families in need.

CT Energy Assistance ProgramAssists families in the New Haven region with fuel expenses for their primary source of heat. Families must schedule an appointment with Community Services at 203-239-2566. Required documentation must be provided at the time of your appointment.

Holiday Food Distribution December 14thMust call Kim Bracale for an appointment at 203-239-5321 x502

Holiday Gift Distribution December 19thBy appointment only. Must call Carla for an appointment at 203-239-5321 x504

COUNSELING CONNECTION stress management | mindfulness | student needs

NHMS SCHOOL COUNSELING QUARTER 2 NEWSLETTER

App of the Month We are excited to announce the launch of our new feature, "App of the Month." Our department has carefully researched and selected 10 helpful apps for students suffering from disorganization, anxiety, stress, and more. Each month, we promote the app by displaying posters for students to view. The first app we have chosen is called Calm because it can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, help you enjoy more sleep, teach calming breathing techniques and more. Students can simply plug in their earbuds and listen to the soothing sounds of mindful meditation!

Survey Results Our students at every grade level want more information about high school, college, and careers- it was the number two response across the board! Since collecting our data, we have met with the Community Outreach Committee at NHMS and are in the process of organizing a full day of Parent University for the entire school to participate in during the Spring. We will be administering an additional student survey to discover which careers interest our students the most. Parents and community members who are interested in participating will be invited to our building to present their careers-- we are looking for a diverse group of workers as this will be a great opportunity to connect the classroom to the "real world" or work!

North Haven Middle School Mindfulness Imagine...no technology, no talking, no distractions...just a place for peace and quiet. The lights are dim, you can hear the soft sound of rain, and flameless candles flicker as your instructor guides you to deeply smell the rose, and blow out the candles. A place to take a mental timeout from our often overwhelming lives. A place to learn how to experience your emotions as you experience them. That is mindfulness.

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# 2 Third Eye Point

#3 Deep Breathing

Research has proven that deep breathing is the BEST way to reduce stress. It actually evokes the relaxation response in your brain. It's easy to learn and you can do it anywhere! Follow these 2 simple steps:

1. Smell the rose a. Deep breath in

2. Blow out the candlesa. Long exhale

Your third eye point is located right between your eyebrows. Stimulating your third eye has proven to help calm the entire body and relieve symptoms of anxiety. Simply close your eyes, and gently press between your eyebrows with your thumb for 1 minute while taking slow deep breaths.

NHMS SCHOOL COUNSELING QUARTER 2 NEWSLETTER

Why Now?Adolescents are facing more pressures than ever before-- whether it's their constant drive to earn straight A's, participate in sports, participate in extracurricular activities, they are also trying to navigate the social pressures of middle school. On top of that, they are entangled in a dangerous digital world as anything and anyone are accessible by the touch of a button. They are often attached to technology that they cannot escape from or refuse to escape from because it is a source of stimuli unlike any other. This day and age, they simply cannot flee from their problems-- they feel a constant pressure from the world within their phones ranging from their body image, to their relationships, to their financial security, to their academics, to their future careers and more. What they see on their screen is often their reality, and that itself can be scary.

Purpose of MindfulnessTeaching mindfulness to students has proven to be effective in reducing emotional distress, improving overall attention, and increasing motivation to learn. We have seen first-hand that many students do not have the proper coping skills to manage their emotions, especially when they are under great distress. Students who do not have the tools and resources to recognize and manage their emotions are like little volcanoes--they feel constant pressure from what they see on their phones ranging from their peer interactions, to their relationships, to their academics...and eventually they can erupt.

Teaching mindfulness can provide the opportunity for students to learn how to notice what's happening in the present moment, learn how to decrease and manage their emotional reaction, and increase their emotional balance and clarity. Also, having the tools to be in control of their own emotions can be empowering--it can increase self-confidence and help them understand the importance of relaxation and taking a timeout from the world around them.

To increase mindfulness education, our department at NHMS is in the process of implementing mindfulness classroom lessons to teach relaxation techniques, promoting monthly apps that teach successful coping mechanisms, encouraging students to unplug and take a time out, and much more! Our counseling colleagues at NHHS have implemented a similar initiative for high school students. During lunch waves every Wednesday, students are allowed to enter the auditorium and participate in mindfulness training. Once our building is complete, we want to launch a comparable program for our students where we use similar language and techniques in hopes that upon graduation from NHMS, students can continue to seek these services if they find them to be helpful.

Helpful Tips for Home • Listen & talk to your kids. Let them know that you are available to talk about anything, at anytime

• Start a ritual: "Walk me through your day from start to finish," or "What was the best part of your day?"• Be patient-- if they know that you are there for them, they will eventually open up to you. Don't give up!• Make time to unplug! Set a time or day when phones are off and away

• Be present--put your own phone away when you are watching TV, eating dinner, or watching their sports games/events/recitals

• Don't ignore changes. If they withdraw from activities or if their mood changes, don't assume it's part of adolescence

• Contact your child's School Counselor if you are concerned. We are here to help!

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