February 6-10, 2023, was National School Counselor Week. This purpose of this week, which is celebrated during the first week of February each year, focuses attention on the unique contributions of school counselors within our schools. School counselors, at all levels, have a tremendous impact in helping students achieve overall school success, planning for career and/or college after high school, and providing social and emotional support.

Counselors were spoiled during the week with small tokens of appreciation and a celebratory lunch! The Campus counselors work hard for all students often putting in long hours during the nights and weekends. Thank you to Dale Bonavita (PPEC), Katy Swann (SSAE HS), Jenny Allen (SSAE HS), and Stephanie Troscher (SSAE MS) for all that you do to support students!

SATs for Juniors will take place on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. SAT testing not only serves as our state assessment, it also is used for graduation mastery of English & Math therefore it is imperative that students take their SAT Assessment in April. Additionally, it serves as an admission requirement for many colleges and universities. Students can better prepare for taking the SAT's in a number of ways. Khan Academy has partnered with College Board allowing students to create an account that links their last PSAT scores to their account so a very individualized study plan can be created for the student. Students that study using their own individualized study plan have been shown to improve their scores (20 hours of study averaged a score increase of 115 points). There are practice tests you can take as well. Check out the College Board website for more information.

SAT assesses in three different areas: Reading, Writing & Language, and Math (Science is assessed within the reading portion of the assessment). When taking the SAT, remember there is no penalty for guessing.

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SINGER: If you are interested in singing the National Anthem for our senior events, please let Mrs. Swann (kswann@d49.org) know and she will add you to our interest list. We will have auditions after spring break for those interested.

SPEAKER: If you are interested in speaking at the graduation ceremony, please submit your speech to Mrs. Swann (kswann@d49.org) no later than April 1st. All submissions will be reviewed by the graduation committee and two speakers will be selected. Speeches should be no longer than 5-7 minutes.

February 14 - 20 of every year we celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Month, with February 17th being Random Acts of Kindness Day! This is a time to celebrate positivity and all the ways we can positively influence each other's lives.

We encourage each and every one of you to do something kind for someone else (a friend, a family member, a colleague, a classmate, or a complete stranger), not just during this time, but always... and often! Make kindness the norm.

Kindness is more than behavior. The art of kindness means harboring a spirit of helpfulness, as well as being generous and considerate, and doing so without expecting anything in return. Kindness is a quality of being. The act of giving kindness often is simple, free, positive and healthy.

Good for the body

Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer. Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact loneliness, improve low mood and enhance relationships in general. It also can be contagious. Looking for ways to show kindness can give you a focus activity, especially if you tend to be anxious or stressed in some social situations.

Good for the mind

Physiologically, kindness can positively change your brain. Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction and well-being, and cause the pleasure/reward centers in your brain to light up. Endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killer, also can be released. Discover ways you can create happiness.

Be kind to yourself

It is not just how you treat other people — it is how you extend those same behaviors and intentions to yourself as well. I believe you can be kinder in your own self-talk and practice gratitude. People are good at verbally beating themselves up, and rarely does that work as a pep talk. Rather, negativity often causes you to unravel and may even create a vicious cycle of regularly getting down on yourself. You wouldn't talk to your neighbor the way you sometimes talk to yourself. This is what I call the “good neighbor policy,” which can be helpful. If you would not say it to your good neighbor, do not say it about yourself.

Take action

Simply asking "How am I going to practice kindness today?" can be helpful. For a homework assignment, I have invited some clients to pay attention and periodically document during the day their evidence of kindness to others and especially to themselves. This positive focus is like planting positive seeds in your mind garden. Where focus goes, energy flows.

I recently was talking about kindness to a young client who asked if I wanted them to get on the ark. I asked what that meant. The client said, "Acts of random kindness." That was a great response from a young person. How about you? Are you willing to get on the ark?

Consider joining Mayo Clinic Health System's Kickstart Kindness program to start your kindness journey. The program offers many ideas of how to extend kindness.

Finally, I'd like to leave you with this quote: "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." —Dalai Lama

Steve Siegle is a licensed professional counselor in Psychiatry & Psychology in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

Article shared from the Mayo Clinic Health System website:

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/the-art-of-kindness

"How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time" - Morgan Freeman