Mindful Pathways
College and Career Readiness and Social Emotional Learning
Dear Wayne-Westland Community,
Welcome to the third edition of "Mindful Pathways," your monthly guide to college and career readiness and social-emotional learning.
As we continue to embark on this exciting journey together, our mission is clear: to empower every student with the knowledge, resources, and support needed to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of school, higher education, and professional opportunities. Whether you're a parent, staff member, freshman exploring possibilities, or a seasoned senior gearing up for the next chapter, "Mindful Pathways" is your go-to source for insightful articles, advice, and timely updates.
As we approach the holiday season, we find joy in celebrating the holidays and the remarkable journey each of you is on. We hope you enjoy this edition of “Mindful Pathways.”
Daryl Beebe
Fiesta of Free Cash
Wayne Westland Receives the Marina Award
On November 8, 2023, the College and Career Readiness Department was awarded the Marina Award: Changing School Systems and Culture for advancing college-going culture and/or tackling systems-level change within the school by the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN).
The Marina Award recognizes the work that all of us are doing to boost the college access expectation in schools on the ground level and helping drive the state toward the Sixty by 30 Goal. Engaging schools to urge students, parents, staff and administration to take direct action creates a sense of urgency around the post-secondary planning process. While developing programs helps improve outcomes, the real impact comes from systems and culture change.
3rd Annual HBCU Fair
Hundreds of students and families from Wayne-Westland Community Schools and surrounding districts participated in Wayne-Westland on the Yard: A Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) and Career Fair.
The event offered full-scale college-accessible information ranging from college admissions, breakout sessions, and collegiate experience to alumni networking, providing students with the options to connect their talents with individuals and organizations that offer pathways to rewarding careers.
We are grateful to each college, university and organization in attendance.
MI Career Quest
Students were introduced to the most in-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences, and technology.
Educator Open House
Wayne-Westland Community School District had several staff participate in the National Apprenticeship Week: Educator Open House at the Operating Engineers 324 Construction Career Center in Howell, MI.
The event was great as it allowed our staff to learn about various trades and build awareness about the opportunities available for our students. When the participating teachers return, they will share ways to increase awareness about trades across K-5.
Social Emotional Learning
Amanda Faughnan- Supervisor of Social Emotional Learning and Family Resource Center
Wayne-Westland Community Schools has a Family Resource Center (FRC), which provides services to any student/family enrolled in our District, free of cost. Some of the services they provide are: basic need assistance, access to over 700 local resources, Laundry Assistance Program and material items for those unable to afford them (emergency toiletries, socks/underwear, hats/gloves/scarves, etc.) They are also able to supply school supplies and backpacks year round for any WWCS student. Please contact our Family Resource Center at: 734-419-2709 or FRC@wwcsd.net. Our FRC also has a Digital Request for Services Form, which can be used to request assistance by filling out a simple form. Please contact the Family Resource Center directly with any additional questions regarding their services.
"Big Green Garden Tips"
As we transition into the colder months, ensure your garden beds are prepped for winter weather by applying a protective layer of mulch. Mulching helps regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and insulate plant roots from freezing temperatures.
To get a head start on a healthy spring garden, use organic materials like straw, dried leaves, or wood chips to cover the soil around your garden. Layer approximately 2-4 inches thick, making sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from plant stems to prevent rot. This simple step will safeguard your garden, ensuring a healthier start for your plants come springtime!
Compassion Project Winners
WWCS has partnered with the City of Westland to recognize students for random acts of kindness. Each month,students are nominated for random acts of kindness by their peers and staff. Each school has a monthly winner, who receives a gift card from the Wayne Ford Civic League. Each month, Wayne-Westland Community Schools brings 3 students to be recognized at Westland City Council.
Pictured: Nicolas, who is a 4th grade student at Wildwood, who was "caught being kind" during the month of November.
Nicolas went into a kindergarten class to help students when they had a substitute. He helped students with their work and played with them at recess.
School: Wildwood Elementary School
Student: Kaleb Eikenberg
Random Act of Kindness: Kaleb helped a classmate with a math puzzle.
School: Roosevelt-McGrath Elementary
Student: Sadie Strong
Random Act of Kindness: Sadie helped clean up trash in her classroom without being asked.
School: P. D. Graham Elementary
Student: Aubree Heckerthorn
Random Act of Kindness: Aubree asked a student who was crying in the office if she was okay, and asked if she wanted a hug to feel better.
HYPE Turkey Giveaway
Thank you to HYPE Recreation for providing 200+ turkeys and food items to Wayne-Westland Community Schools families in need for the Thanksgiving holiday! Our Family Resource Center staff along with students & staff from Upward Bound and our High School Work Study Program were on hand to help hand out turkeys to families. It was a great day for all!
Grieving During the Holidays Isn’t Easy…You Aren’t Alone
Teaching Young Learners Self Calming Skills Source: Impact at School: Article by Marieke van Woekkom from Edutopia
The holidays are supposed to be the most magical time of the year…But for those grieving the death of a loved one, it can feel like anything but that. If you need some holiday season support, check out our Glitter + Grief webinar from SandCastles Grief Support Program for Children and Families.
Support During the Holidays
The holiday season can be filled with joy and celebrations. This time of year can also trigger difficult emotions, thoughts, or behaviors—which can affect your mental health and use of substances. Let your friends, family, and communities know that confidential support is available 24/7 for both mental health and substance use.
December is National Stress-Free Holiday Month
Happy December! With the holidays upon us, there are many reasons to be joyful. It's a time for sharing, laughter, giving back, and creating memories with family and friends. The holidays, however, can also be stressful. We may be making plans to visit loved ones, managing our budget for gifts, or coordinating events with our community. With an already-packed schedule, these additional tasks can add stress to our lives.
Celebrating and connecting with family is important during the holiday season, but it's also essential to care for your mental health. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month brings awareness to the harmful effects of stress and reminds everyone to take care of themselves as they approach the holidays. Here are some helpful tips for a more stress-free holiday season:
- Make modifications to holiday traditions. Consider ways to modify traditions that may negatively impact your mental health. It can be nice to stick with holiday traditions, but your mental health should take priority.
- Don't forget the power of "no." It's okay to say no to plans if you are feeling overwhelmed.
- Plan ahead. Keeping a calendar of events can help you stay on track and prepare for events. It can be stressful to shop on the same day as an event, so keep a list of tasks to prevent the rush.
- Talk about your feelings. You might be overwhelmed or missing a loved one. Talking about your feelings with a trusted friend or family member is okay. You are not in this alone.
- Take time for self-care. It's important to take care of ourselves before caring for others. This holiday season, make time for yourself.
- Find a therapist. Acknowledge your feelings and talk to a professional when needed. If you would like help finding a mental health care provider, use Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential coordination service provided by Wayne-Westland Community School District:
- Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
- Visit www.caresolace.com/wwcsd and either search on your own or click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
We wish you a joyous and stress-free holiday season!
Classroom Activity Breaks to Support Social Emotional Learning
Taking a classroom activity break can be a great way to redirect attention and antsy behavior to a fun, interactive activity or game. These games can also be used at home. Sometimes all students need is a short opportunity to analyze their current situation, reflect and responsibly choose their next action. Physical activity breaks in the classroom provide students an opportunity to practice these skills, while increasing to energize the brain. Last month, we shared some different activity break ideas. We are adding to that list this month, with new activity break ideas. Please check out the links below!
Source: Source: InPACT at School
Elementary Activity Break Ideas
Would You Rather: School Edition
Mario Team vs Sonic Team Fitness Race
Middle School Activity Break Ideas
5-Minute Physical Activity Break
Discover STEAM careers with your students
Today’s students are our future STEAM leaders – the ones reimagining and rebuilding a better world for all of us. Together we can show students what’s possible and allow all students to see themselves in STEAM.
LEGO® Education developed the STEAM Heroes Career Toolkit to use in your classroom and inspire your students to rebuild the world around them. Through engaging videos and hands-on challenges, your students will meet real-world STEAM professionals and learn how they use STEAM skills in their careers – from bee rescue to race car driving to ocean advocacy.
Inspire your students to discover – or create! – what they love to do. Just imagine the possibilities when they combine their confidence, curiosity, and passion. After all, small steps can lead to big change.
Share one of the videos below with your students at: https://education.lego.com/en-us/career-toolkit/
EMU Digital Divas and Digital Dudes
"Create Your Own Face Filter"
Becoming a nurse: Learning the Basics of First Aid
Digital Divas Presentations
Elevate Salon Visit
3rd Grade Students Visit the DIA
Hamilton students visit the DIA
Hamilton students visit the DIA
Hicks students visit the DIA
Leading Women's Conference
WWCSD students attending the Leading Women's Conference, The theme of the conference focused on advancement of gender equity and representation in the industry. All of our students had the opportunity to sit down and discuss future goals with potential mentors who are Women in the Automotive Industry.
Students: Samantha McNaughton & Merissa Tilley
JA in a Day
Distinguished Young Women of Wayne County
On December 1, 2023, the District hosted the oldest and largest scholarship program for high school females in the country, the Distinguished Young Women of Wayne County, formerly Wayne-Westland's Junior Miss. Five of the nine contestants represented Wayne Memorial and John Glenn High School. Two of our students were selected to represent the Distinguished Young Women of Wayne County at the State Program on February 3, 2024 at John Glenn High School.
Community Financial Credit Union
Community Financial Credit Union is opening a student-led branch
inside of John Glenn High School on October 30. The branch is located
across the cafeteria and will be open during lunch for all students and
staff to access.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University will begin offering 6,000 Michiganders free tuition each year.
The free tuition takes effect during the fall of 2024.
The new financial aid program, the Spartan Tuition Advantage, will automatically cover the full cost of tuition for Pell Grant-eligible Michigan high school graduates with a family income of $65,000 or less.
The only paperwork necessary to apply will be the FAFSA, MSU said. In-state students who meet eligibility and complete a FAFSA are guaranteed coverage, but changes in your financial situation could change your eligibility.
College Visits
Students attending the UofM Medical Phlebotomy Lab at Wayne Memorial. Students learned about different Healthcare and Laboratory Professions & participated in a hands-on Phlebotomy activity as well as a practice STREP - A test.
Students Who Have been accepted to MSU!
Trades Week At John Glenn High School
Scholarships
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
Students and their families looking to secure more financial aid for college are encouraged to register for an informational webinar about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which is the newest State of Michigan scholarship program expected to impact the majority of students. Participants will be able to gather the following information: Michigan Achievement Scholarship eligibility requirements Michigan Achievement Scholarship award amounts Important action items for students and families Additional resources and program information All sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Register for one session only, as space is limited.
Virtual Financial Aid Webinars
Students and their families interested in learning about financial aid basics are encouraged to register for a virtual presentation provided by Michigan Department of Treasury’s MI Student Aid team.
Participants will be able to gather information on the following financial aid topics:
FAFSA application information
Federal financial aid programs
State financial aid programs
Scholarship searching resources
All sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Register for one session only, as space is limited.
Upward Bound
It has been tremendously exciting this fall that three prestigious universities specifically reached out to UB to visit with students at Wayne. We were proud to host admission rep visits with Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, for the invited student body-at-large. All three reps stated that they are reaching out to better recruit and serve underrepresented populations, and that Wayne H.S. has developed a reputation for producing students ready to succeed at competitive universities.
On Friday November 10, 2023, Upward Bound
went to see the WMHS Theatrical Guild performance of "Almost, Maine". It was an enjoyable evening of school spirit.
Upward Bound Students attended a wonderful performance of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" at Meadow Brook Theater for their Holiday Celebration. We were fortunate that Meadow Brook honored our students with front row tickets!
"A Christmas Carol" at Meadow Brook Theater
We are so honored to share that our school, Wayne Memorial High School, has been named one of five 2023 Building the Hope School in the state from the Education Trust-Midwest!
Building the Hope schools have been recognized for helping advance traditionally underserved students: students of color and/or students from low-income backgrounds. The Education Trust-Midwest sought out how students at these schools demonstrated tremendous growth in comparison to others throughout the state of Michigan.
At Wayne Memorial, Latino students far surpassed the statewide average for English Language Arts proficiency on the SAT. The Education Trust-Midwest explored how this came to be, and upon data disaggregation, we discovered that most of the high performing students were members of our Upward Bound program!
We are incredibly proud to share this article to shine a light on our students' accomplishments and drive. Our Wayne-Westland Upward Bound program has a feature in the article as well, and we appreciate the opportunity to share what we do here!
A big thank you to the Education Trust-Midwest @edtrust for recognizing our students, as well as their philanthropic partners at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation @kelloggfoundation & the DTE Foundation @dte_energy_official.
To read the article, go to: https://buildingthehopeschools.org/wayne-memorial-story/
Contact us at 734-419-2084