News You Can Use
April 17, 2020
Principal's Note
Parents,
Raise your hand if you felt the 'shift' in your homes/workplaces this week? As we rounded the corner of a month in quarantine, I've spoken with many people in many industries, who all say this week just feels different. As you will read in the update from Mrs. Paxhia and Dr. Nichols, your children may be expressing sadness or anger at this situation through regressive behaviors. All this is normal. Each of you are at home in a crisis, trying to work from home or leaving as an essential worker, while supporting your child's learning. It is challenging and stressful. Trying to maintain a separation of work and family is near impossible in this unprecedented time.
When it comes to supporting your child's learning - do that best you can. Our teachers are learning each day and making changes to support their students to be more independent in this new learning environment. In the meantime - do the best you can. Send a quick note to me or your child's teacher, and then stop worrying! Your children are looking to see how you respond to adversity, and will in turn respond the same way when something is challenging. All we expect from our students at Ravinia is that they try their best, and the same goes for you as parents! Most of you were not trained as teachers, and have not had classes in management, or strategies, or child development, yet here you are. Just.Do.Your.Best.
Just as you are trying to balance all these factors, our staff are working night and day to provide your children with emotional support as well as meaningful academic experiences, all while learning new ways to turn in work and interact with each other. In addition, they are parents, or children helping care for their own parents, or both. These last few weeks have blurred their home/work life like never before.
In order for our staff to be able to be their best selves for your children and their own families, I have encouraged all of them to take time to recharge with their families in the evenings. As with the typical school day, I have asked that they return emails during regular office hour times or during our new 'school day' (9am-3pm). I appreciate your support and understanding with this.
As we continue to be at home during this time, trying to work and maintain safe spaces for our families, I look forward to the day that we can all be together at Ravinia. Until then, take time to center yourself however you can. I continue to exercise in the mornings before the rest of the house is awake, and baking and cooking is calming and cathartic for me. Try to find joy in one thing each day!
If you or your family are in need of support during this time, please reach out if there is anything I can do. If you need emotional support, or need someone to talk to, Illinois has established a free Call for Calm program. Simply text 'talk' to 552020 to speak with a professional.
We will get through this. Although we may be apart, we will get through this together.
Warmly,
Courtney Nordstrom
I'd love to see our Ravinia community in their school spirit. Feel free to post your child's picture on Twitter or our Ravinia School Facebook page with our #RaviniaRocks hashtag on MONDAYS in their favorite Ravinia spiritwear! Don't forget to watch my weekly videos on Facebook or Twitter.
Important Dates: Birthdays at Ravinia!
We typically announce our student birthdays during morning announcements at Ravinia. Since we can't be together, I am going to be publishing a recorded announcement on Mondays to our Ravinia School Facebook page and our Ravinia School Twitter account. You don't need a Twitter account to access the videos! Just go to Twitter.com and search #RaviniaRocks or @RaviniaSchool. I'm also posting some other videos for students.
RAVINIA BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK:
April 20:
Alexa D. in Ms. Derry's Class
Jordan R. in Ms. Derry's Class
April 21:
Zachary D. in Ms. Quaid's Class
Oliver F. in Ms. Melnick's Class
April 22:
Isabel H. in Ms. Kahn's Class
April 23:
Tali F. in Ms. Fodor's Class
April 26:
Warren B. in Ms. Dunning's Class
This Week's Message from the School Psychologist & Social Worker
April 13, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We hope that you are doing well and finding healthy ways to stay active and connect with loved ones. As we head into week 5 of remote learning, we thought it would be helpful to focus on mindfulness strategies to help and manage stress/anxiety. Keep in mind, our students are just as nervous as the adults around them. Not only do they hear everything that is going on, but they feel the tension and anxiety. You may see an increase in negative behavior issues with your children as remote learning continues into April. Your child might regress to younger stages of development, show increased anxiety, anger or protest the academic demands being placed on them. These behaviors are normal given the circumstances that we are faced with.
It is important that we continue to stay as positive as we can. Additionally, it is important that we engage in self-care practices in order to process our emotions and experiences during this difficult time. It’s important, if not crucial, for your family to find healthy ways to manage feelings of stress and anxiety. There are many benefits of mindfulness practice, including lowering levels of anxiety, reducing emotional reactivity and improving attention.
What is Mindfulness?
The ability to be fully present, aware of where we are, and what we are doing
Not being overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is going on around us
It can be done through various proven techniques including seated, walking, standing and moving meditation
It cuts down needless stress -- even a little makes our lives better!
Check out headspace for more information
How to Sit for Meditation:
Take your seat
Notice what your legs are doing
Straighten - but don’t stiffen - your upper body
Situate your upper arms parallel to your upper body
Drop your chin a little and let your gaze fall gently downward
Be there for a few moments and listen to the sound of your breath. Allow the breath to gentle move through your body
Begin again
That’s it!
Here are some resources on Mindfulness Strategies you may find useful:
As always, your child can email one of us if he/she would like to set up a time to talk.
Jen Paxhia, social worker jpaxhia@nssd112.org
Sarah Nichols, school psychologist snichols@nssd112.org
From the Library
Parents and students, don’t forget to check out the new challenges in the Weekly Spotlight section of our website. Virtual field trips, weekly challenges and passion projects await!
Illinois State Remote Learning Guidelines
Food Service/Delivery
All Families
As a priority, the District will be providing meals for all community members age 18 & under. Food will be available for curbside pickup (drive-up or walk-up) at Oak Terrace school (rear of building, entrance #C-3) at 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Parents may pick up meals for children
Those who pick up a meal will receive a cold lunch for that day and a cold breakfast for the next morning, both of which will meet the USDA and National School Lunch Program guidelines.
Community Resources
Moraine Township Food Pantry
The Moraine Township Food Pantry offers weekly food to Moraine Township residents. The pantry is open Tuesday from 10 am to 2 pm. If you know of a resident who needs food, please have them call the pantry office at 847-432-3240. Learn more.
Highland Park Community Foundation - All In This Together sign
Physically, we may have to be apart, but we are all in this together. Show your support for your neighbors, friends, and community and download and print a pdf of an All In This Together sign available here in English and Spanish. Decorate, and hang it on your window or door. Then spread the word so there will be signs everywhere... Learn more.
Audible for Free
For as long as schools are closed, we're open. Kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids. All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.
https://stories.audible.com/start-listen?ref=adbl_ent_anon_ds_hm_hb
Ravinia School
Website: nssd112.org/ravinia
Location: 763 Dean Avenue, Highland Park, IL, USA
Phone: 2247653700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raviniaschool/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @RaviniaSchool