WCSD PBIS: Wellness Matters!
Volume Six: Spring 2019
- Impact of the Student Wellness Program - visible results from our commitment to a healthy, positive, and caring school environment
- Happy people are more productive
- Tune up classroom climate with community circles
- Kindness: 12 Minutes to a better mood
WCSD Student Wellness Program Update
The Student Wellness Program launched this year with the overarching goal of nurturing trauma-informed practices across the district.
We focused on early intervention, building Tier 2 support systems, and rejuvenating our implementation of Tier 1 foundations. The addition of School Social Workers to our team of student support services provided a significant expansion of intervention resources.
Results? We believe the decline in suicide risk assessments tells the story.
See the graph, below: The Red line describes a downward trend when compared with last year at this time, despite a slight uptick in families reporting insecure housing.
Reversing the trend of emotional distress was a multi-faceted team effort.
Take a moment to reflect on your contribution to improving outcomes for our students.
Wellness Program Accomplishments:
Fall trimester
- Early identification of needs by conducting walk-throughs of Kinder & 1st grade classrooms and completing the Universal screen for social-behavior-attendance-academic risk
- Launch of Second Step social emotional learning curriculum in every TK-2nd grade classroom and at least one classroom per grade level for all other grades. Lessons have been taught by classroom teachers, school social workers, school psych interns, counselors, and counselor interns.
- Tier 2 teams review referrals and universal screening information to match students to interventions and monitor progress throughout the year
- Provided individual and small group counseling sessions with school social workers, school psychologists, school psychologist interns, and school counselors and interns.
- MTSS/RTI reading intervention programs were implemented across the grades; Information letters and progress monitoring reports kept parents engaged.
Winter and Spring
- Most school site staffs participated in Professional Development on Adverse Childhood Experiences and how to build resilience by leaning on our PBIS systems as a support for students, staff, and schools
- Launched Check-In-Check-Out as the main Tier 2 intervention and vehicle for data collection
- Increased parent knowledge and engagement with a variety of parent workshops, including on social emotional learning and managing social media's impact on children;
- Continued MTSS/RTI reading interventions and parent notifications of progress.
Greetings at the door and supportive relationships
Second Step social emotional learning curriculum
Restorative circles & community building
Happy Teacher Habits
Secure your own oxygen mask first
before assisting children.
Happiness fuels success, not the other way around. In fact, science has shown that, “The brain at positive is 31% more productive than at negative, neutral or stressed.” ~Shawn Achor, Harvard
DAILY HABIT # 1: Mindfulness, the ancient practice of focusing non-judgmental awareness on the present moment, is increasingly recognized in today’s scientific community as an effective way to reduce stress, increase self-awareness, enhance emotional intelligence, and effectively manage painful thoughts and feelings.
DAILY HABIT # 2: Gratitude, appreciation, love (write down things you are grateful for at least 4 times a week)
DAILY HABIT # 3: Physical wellness (exercise, sleep, healthy diet boosts mood, enhances work performance, improves motivation and feelings of mastery, reducing stress and anxiety)
DAILY HABIT # 4: Altruism, compassion, giving back (5 acts of kindness over the course of a day will make you feel happier)
DAILY HABIT # 5: Authenticity, vulnerability, forgiveness, letting go (these are the roots of social connection)
DAILY HABIT # 6: Social connection, nature connection, empathy (increases immunity and longevity and boosts mental and physical health)
DAILY HABIT # 7: Meaning, purpose, strengths (looking forward to something raises endorphin levels by 27%! Do something that emphasizes your strengths. Infuse positivity into your surroundings - 5 to 1 ratio, anyone?)
Free download on Teachers pay teachers: The 30- Day Happy Teacher Challenge
Staff Morale Matters!
A recent study found a relationship between work exhaustion and LONELINESS.
Social connection at work is a protective factor for high stress jobs.
https://hbr.org/2017/06/burnout-at-work-isnt-just-about-exhaustion-its-also-about-loneliness
Tune-Up for Classroom Climate: Restorative Circles
Restorative Practices and the Skills of Circle Keeping
Restorative Practices build community and can help set things right when the integrity of the community is challenged by harmful behaviors. It is never too late to build community and "checking in" and reflecting on the year can be a powerful practice even at the end of the school year, forming a positive memory with members of the circle.
When people come together for restorative interactions they sit in circles. Circle dialogue is a fundamental element of restorative dialogue.
Classroom circles support the two main goals of restorative practices: building community; and responding to harms through dialogue that sets things right. They build a particular sense of community in which every member--students, teacher, parent volunteers, aides--feel that they are seen, heard, and respected.
Key elements:
- Circle - everyone is an equal participant
- Talking piece - ensure every voice is heard by taking turns
- High quality prompting questions - relevant and open-ended
- Circle guidelines are posted & reviewed to ensure trust & safety (e.g., anyone can "pass," say just enough, listen without comment)
- Close the circle with a reflection - "What are you taking away from the circle today?"
Get Started with restorative circles with this guide: https://sites.google.com/whittiercity.net/wcsd-pbis/restorative-practices-bully-prevention
Sample application:
"Baby Steps Toward Restorative Justice," by Linea King
Rethinking Schools, Volume 29 No.4 - Summer 2015
https://www.rethinkingschools.org/articles/baby-steps-toward-restorative-justice
With staff:
Teaching Community and Knowing Students
By Matthew Riggan, a co-founder of the Workshop School in Philadelphia, for Edweek on April 3, 2019
Kindness: 12 Minutes to a Better Mood
By Robert Preidt,
HealthDay Reporter for US News & World Report
A sure-fire antidote to the blues is to focus on others, a new study suggests.
"Walking around and offering kindness to others in the world reduces anxiety and increases happiness and feelings of social connection," said study author Douglas Gentile, a professor of psychology at Iowa State University.
"It's a simple strategy that doesn't take a lot of time that you can incorporate into your daily activities," he said in a university news release.
For the study, Gentile and colleagues had students walk around a building for 12 minutes and use one of three approaches.
Loving-kindness: This is where you look at others and think, "I wish for this person to be happy."
Interconnectedness: In this approach, you look at others and consider how they are connected to one another.
Downward social comparison: This is considering how you may be better off than each of the people you encounter.
The study also included a control group of students who were told to look at people and focus on what they see on the outside, such as clothing, makeup and accessories.
Before and after going for their walk, all students were assessed for levels of anxiety, happiness, stress, empathy and connectedness.
Compared to the control group, those who practiced loving-kindness or wished others well felt happier, more connected, caring and empathetic, as well as less anxious. The interconnectedness group was more empathetic and connected.
Students who compared themselves to others felt less empathetic, caring and connected than those who extended good wishes to others.
There was no benefit with downward social comparison, according to the study published online recently in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
"At its core, downward social comparison is a competitive strategy," said study co-author Dawn Sweet, an Iowa State senior lecturer in psychology. "That's not to say it can't have some benefit, but competitive mindsets have been linked to stress, anxiety and depression."
More information
Mental Health America offers more advice on how to live your life well.
Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Watch this Fun and short Ted Talk about happiness and work
WCSD PBIS & MTSS Google Site
More resources to support student engagement as well as prevention and management of disruptive behavior can be found on the WCSD PBIS & MTSS Google Site
- videos
- links to more resources
- tips on responding to common challenging behaviors
- academic strategies
- more
WCSD PBIS: Positive School Climate for Student Success
Email: pbis@whittiercity.net
Phone: .