The Tiger's Mind
Tallassee City Schools Mental Health & Wellness Newsletter
February 2024
9th Edition
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Eating Well for Mental Health
Consuming fewer processed foods can lead to better brain and emotional health.
From a young age, we’re taught that eating well helps us look and feel our physical best. What we’re not always told is that good nutrition significantly affects our mental health, too. A healthy, well-balanced diet can help us think clearly and feel more alert. It can also improve concentration and attention span.
Conversely, an inadequate diet can lead to fatigue, impaired decision-making, and can slow down reaction time. In fact, a poor diet can actually aggravate, and may even lead to, stress and depression.
Healthy Eating Tips
- Steer clear of processed snack foods, such as potato chips, which can impair your ability to concentrate. Pass up sugar-filled snacks, such as candy and soft drinks, which lead to ups and downs in energy levels.
- Consume plenty of healthy fats, such as olive oil, coconut oil and avocado. This will support your brain function.
- Have a healthy snack when hunger strikes, such as fruit, nuts, hard-boiled eggs, baked sweet potatoes or edamame. This will give you more energy than packaged products.
- Develop a healthy shopping list and stick to it.
- Don’t shop while hungry, since you’ll be more apt to make unhealthy impulse purchases.
- Think about where and when you eat. Don’t eat in front of the television, which can be distracting and cause you to overeat. Instead, find a place to sit, relax and really notice what you’re eating. Chew slowly. Savor the taste and texture.
TES School Counselor
SMS School Counselor
THS School Counselors
Mrs. Catherine Davis (9-10)
Mrs. Felicia Jackson (11-12)
Join me in taking a moment to email, call, or write your school counselors to show your appreciation for their service to our students!
School counselors play a vital role in our school culture and individual support for our students. On January 11th 2024, Governor Ivy signed a proclamation to declare every first full week in February, each year, as National School Counseling Week. This is a time where we can not only show our appreciation and gratitude to our school counselors but to to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within our district. This week has been an opportunity to highlight the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
I want to personally thank all school counselors for their commitment and dedication to supporting and enriching the lives of our young people.
#NSCW2024
#TogetherWEcan!
Posted by Jeff Tucker, Ph.D., Boys Town Press Author and National Certified School Counselor
When you think of school counselors, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
If you’re anything like me, what comes to mind is getting your classes scheduled and receiving pamphlets about countless colleges and universities. The outdated term “guidance counselor” might even spring to mind. Those days are long gone.
Keep reading this article to learn more about:
Who are today’s school counselors?
What do today’s school counselors do?
What does this mean for students?
Did you know there are scientifically proven benefits of being kind?
Watch Random Acts of Kindness Foundation's new science of kindness video to learn more, then visit their site (https://www.randomactsofkindness.org) for some specific benefits to being kind.
Wellness Reminder
Where Does Your Confidence Come From?
How are those goals going?
Goals you may have set in January. Goals you may have set in August.
Goals you may have set 5 years ago.
Are you searching for validation from others in regards to your success?
Comparison is the thief of joy, so don't compare your progress to others. Everyone has their own progress bar with an end goal that looks a little different. Don't give up on your goals, instead keep pushing toward them at YOUR PACE for YOU! When you give up, when you think you can't do it anymore, when you want to throw in the towel, remember, you're only giving up on yourself.
Don't give in. Don't throw in the towel on YOU. You're all you've got! Be confident and fuel that confidence with belief in yourself, not what others think about your status!
You've got this!
Go GLOW!
~Mrs. Brittany Spencer, Southside Middle School Principal
Cyber Safety
TCS Protects our Students with BARK
When schools give students access to devices and online accounts, an incredible world of learning opportunities opens up — as well as potential dangers. Digital safety is critically important to Tallassee City Schools which is why we use Bark for Schools to help us protect our students both online and in real life.
Bark monitors for signs of potential issues like:
Cyberbullying
Suicidal ideation
Sexual predators
Threats of violence
And more
Alerts at the first signs of danger
When possible dangers arise on school-issued accounts, Bark for Schools sends us alerts so we can address the situation in a timely manner. These alerts also give us insights that help us promote the well-being of the entire student body. (Please note, bark alerts are not monitored after hours or on weekends or holidays.)
Check out these parenting resources:
Visit the Bark blog to stay informed on all things kids and tech.
Download this guide for helpful tips on talking to your child about common issues.
Join the Parenting in a Tech World Facebook group and connect with other parents raising kids in the digital age.
Learn more about Bark for Schools — including their commitment to student privacy.
8 Eye-Opening Statistics- 2023 Annual Report
Many families aren’t aware of just how common some issues like bullying, suicidal ideation, and s!@ting really are. In a recent blog post, the Bark team examines some of the more eye-opening stats and what this new information means for your families!
America’s emergency departments are being flooded by children suffering from psychiatric emergencies like depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. —U.S. News & World Report
Need help? Check out these blog posts:
Top 10 De-escalation Tips for Educators
Educators experience new challenges every day, including how to respond to defensive behavior in the safest, most effective way possible. This free resource features practical de-escalation tips, supportive statements to use, and more.
Parenting Leadership Classes for Hispanic Families
Elmore County Family Resource Center is collaborating, once again, with Tallassee City Schools' Family Engagement Educators Team (F.E.E.T.) to provide a spring session in parenting leadership for Hispanic families. Free classes begin February 27, 6:00-8:00 pm, at the Career Tech Center. Dinner will be provided. Children are welcome to attend with their family.
WITHOUT CREATING DISTANCE OR BREAKING ATTACHMENT!
Are YOU ready to remain present and constant even if your children are unhappy in the moment ?
FREE tickets STILL available!!
After this workshop you'll be able to...
Remain calm during tense times. And you will:
Learn what it looks like to be connected without disappearing.
Be able to feel confident in your boundaries, even if kids don’t like them.
Understand connection and attachment (they aren’t genies in a bottle)
The Circle of Control
Do you know the difference between the weather and your mood?
ANSWER: You can’t control whether it rains or not, but you can definitely decide how it affects you.
This is what the circle of control means. Essentially, it teaches you to focus on the things that you can actually do something about to increase your resilience, productivity, and success.
This article discusses the circle of control in more detail and situations where you can use it to experience its full benefits. Teaching your kids and students this concept will give them the ability to cope with strong emotions and difficult events in their lives.
Table of contents
- What is the Circle of Control?
- Understanding the Circle of Concern, Influence, and Control
- Why Focusing on the Circle of Control is Important
- How to Apply the Circle of Control in Your Life
- Expanding Your Circles of Control
- The Bottom Line
The circle of control isn’t just beneficial for overcoming constant worrying. It’s a powerful tool that can help you have a proactive mindset, improve your mental health, and develop flexibility, which gives you the ability to overcome life’s struggles.
FREE mental health education webinars coming soon!
Understanding Eating Disorders | Tues 2/27 | 12-1:00p CST
Although our culture is preoccupied with food and weight, and disordered eating is very common, clinical diagnosis of eating disorders is less common. Even for professionals who have been treating them for years, eating disorders can be confusing illnesses. Explore the types of eating disorders, their signs & symptoms, risk factors, and treatment in this one-hour seminar.
Register here https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9716886587868/WN_4NOGjROLQBe9M5ATKDwG4w
Responding in a Mental Health Emergency | Wed 2/28 | 10-11:00a CST
We know what to do when someone breaks their arm: brace it and go to the hospital. But what should you do when someone is experiencing a mental health emergency? Learn what causes crisis situations and the warning signs, how to respond, and what to do once the crisis has ended.
Register herehttps://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9716886587868/WN_pXyT4JcjTMOd8l6_glKgdw
Understanding Suicide | Thurs 2/29 | 12-1:00p CST
There is a common myth that discussing suicide or asking about suicidal thoughts could potentially encourage suicide attempts. The truth is that open and honest conversations about suicide plays a crucial role in prevention. Explore the causes of suicide, the warning signs, and how to cope in this one-hour seminar.
Register here https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9716886587868/WN_4t0fRi5EQ4aTn4LgUaQqow
Self-Regulation These Days
By Colleen at The OT Toolbox
My nine year old is in a stage where she ads "these days" to the end of her comments and it's pretty funny. She'll say things like, "kids these days", or "parents these days". She's a funny kid in general and these kinds of quips come out of her mouth all the time.
I was putting together a new blog post on self-regulation toys for a giveaway we are running this week. The phrase "self-regulation these days" popped into my mind.
Does it seem like self-regulation these days are more of a challenge at all ages and stages?
Regulation is difficult for all of us at one time or another. It requires the ability to self-monitor our thoughts, actions, feelings, internal body processes (interoception), utilize body awareness, consider praxis and metacognition, and then make choices. All of this in the midst of overwhelming input from the outside world, right??
Self-regulation can refer to emotional regulation or behavioral regulation. Self-reflection of feelings, emotions, and our response to situations is the ability to use emotional regulation.
Emotional regulation can look like a bad decision based on inner thoughts, or being in a grumpy mood and as a result being mean to a friend. Emotional regulation has to do with inner decisions related to emotions and moods.
Behavioral regulation refers to decisions related to actions and what we say, do, or think in response to inner thoughts and desires.
I think we can all say that one time or another we had something that we were expected to do but we really did NOT want to do (i.e. rake the leaves, do the taxes, schedule that root canal...)
When it comes to our kiddos and teens, there are some ways we can support them.
Check out the following resources for information, strategies, and supports:
- Self-regulation activities (recently updated with tons of info)
- Sensory coping strategies
- Regulation station
- Calm down area
- Sensory coping strategies for anxiety or worries
- Limbic system
- What's happening behind preschool behaviors
- How to support self-regulation development in preschoolers
- Emotional intelligence activities
- Zones of Regulation
- Mental dexterity
The OT Toolbox is YOUR therapy toolbox, filled with tools, designed to support the healthy development of children, you’ll discover hands-on occupational therapy activities, tools for therapists, and intervention ideas to support kids, as well as the OT professionals, educators, and parents that strive to help kids thrive.
Easy access all of the time to anything mental health & wellness.
This TCS page is designed to access information about mental health topics, receive tools you can use, provides you with resources for all kinds of needs , and where you can access past issues of the Tiger's Mind. Suggestions are always welcome!
Mrs. Jen Bafford
Tallassee City Schools
Mental Health Services Coordinator
Email: Jen.Bafford@tcschools.com
Location: 901 E B Payne Sr Dr, Tallassee, AL 36078
Call or Text: 334-415-4125
Facebook: facebook.com/MrsJenBafford
NEW page on TCS Website: https://www.tcschools.com/page/mental-health-wellness