Our House Announcements
May 3rd, 2021
We Belong Here!
Hello Falcons!
This week's edition is includes a message from Student Support Services on Mood Boosters The Mindful Minute on Walking Mediations, and the Social Emotional Lesson from Thrively on Managing Impulsivity to better your life as well as information for the upcoming Career Expo put on by the Career Technical Education department.
With Kindness,
Ms. Bohn, Mr. Lightner, Ms. Stromberg, and Mr. Tahapary
Jocbethem Tahapary: A-Le jtahapary@powayusd.com
Kenya Bohn: Li - Z ebohn@powayusd.com
Andrew Lightner: alightner@powayusd.com
Student Services Specialist: Sandra Stromberg sstromberg@powayusd.com
OVMS Counseling Canvas 2020-21
You'll need to be a student or observer of your student's canvas site to view the link.
Student Service's Corner-Mood Boosters
Mood Boosters
Smile at yourself
Do A deep breathing exercise
Dance
Get some light
Take a relaxing shower
Listen to Music
How does music influence your mood?
One of the ways music affects mood is by stimulating the formation of certain brain chemicals since it increases the neurotransmitter dopamine that is part of the pleasure-reward system.
Music can improve learning, test taking, concentration, your heartbeat and relaxation.
Listening to music makes us feel good so add more music to your play list and try different songs to boost your mood.
Music can modify your brain waves and give you a positive mood for hours even when you turn off your ipod.
Career Technical Education Career Expo! May 26
Social Emotional-Managing Impulsivity
To access Thrively please click on the link below
https://www.thrively.com/login/school/46048
Once prompted, enter your username and password which are the following
Username: Student Id Number (ex:1234567)
Password: qx1fpv
Once you are in you will be prompted to change your password. If you have logged in before, please use the last password you created. Feel free to look around.
Once you are logged in click on the link below.
https://www.thrively.com/dashboard/child/1644834/lesson/72
This activity should take you less than 30 minutes.
The Mindful Minute: Walking Mindfulness
A Daily Mindful Walking Practice
Take a break and boost your mood with this 10-minute walking meditation.
- BY MARK BERTIN
- Before you begin your meditation, find a quiet space to walk. It could be outdoors, or in a hallway, or even a large room, walking back and forth.
Walking meditation can be a formal practice, like watching the breath. Or it can be informal, bringing awareness to this everyday activity, whenever you need to travel from point A to point B. Walking meditation gives us an opportunity to gather our awareness which so often becomes distracted or even stuck when the mind is left to its own devices. Whether moving between floors of a building, on a city street, or in the woods, it is an opportunity to guide ourselves out of the distracted autopilot we live in throughout so much of our day.
Paying attention in this way, we stay safe by remaining fully aware of whatever is around. On any walk, hike, run, or other physical activity, without effort we may mentally check out—or we can practice awareness instead.
How to Do It
1. As you begin, walk at a natural pace. Place your hands wherever comfortable: on your belly, behind your back, or at your sides.
- If you find it useful, you can count steps up to 10, and then start back at one again. If you’re in a small space, as you reach ten, pause, and with intention, choose a moment to turn around.
- With each step, pay attention to the lifting and falling of your foot. Notice movement in your legs and the rest of your body. Notice any shifting of your body from side to side.
- Whatever else captures your attention, come back to the sensation of walking. Your mind will wander, so without frustration, guide it back again as many times as you need.
- Particularly outdoors, maintain a larger sense of the environment around you, taking it all in, staying safe and aware.
If you find it useful, you can count steps up to 10, and then start back at one again. If you’re in a small space, as you reach ten, pause, and with intention, choose a moment to turn around.
2. Now for a few minutes, expand your attention to sounds. Whether you’re indoors, in the woods, or in a city, pay attention to sounds without labeling or naming, or getting caught up in whether you find them pleasant or unpleasant. Notice sounds as nothing more or less than sound.
3. Shift your awareness to your sense of smell. Again, simply notice. Don’t push or force yourself to feel anything at all, just bring attention to the sense of smell, whatever you discover.
4. Now, move to vision: colors and objects and whatever else you see. Patiently coming back each time something grabs your attention, or even if something needs addressing, like avoiding an obstacle. Staying natural, not overly rigid, not daydreaming and drifting, but with sustained awareness.
5. Keep this open awareness of everything around you, wherever you are. Nothing to do, nothing to fix, nothing to change. Fully aware, and walking.
6. In the last moments, come back to awareness of the physical sensations of walking, wherever else your mind found itself throughout the practice. Notice your feet again touching the ground. Notice again the movements in your body with each step.
When you’re ready to end your walking meditation, stand still for a moment again. Pausing, choose a moment to end the practice. As you finish, consider how you might bring this kind of awareness into the rest of your day.
Supporting Your Child's Mental Health During COVID-19
Parent Technology Presentation Week 2
COVID 19 Resources
Your Oak Valley Counseling Team
Jocbethem Tahapary: A-Le jtahapary@powayusd.com
Kenya Bohn: Li - Z ebohn@powayusd.com
Andrew Lightner: alightner@powayusd.com
Counseling Assistant: Belinda Pagaduan bpagaduan@powayusd.com
Student Services Specialist: Sandra Stromberg sstromberg@powayusd.com
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK
The Access & Crisis Line San Diego 1-888-724-7240
The Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741.
California Warmline: 1-855-845-7415
Text TEEN to 83986