January was a very exciting month at Green Hills! We had a number of engaging programs for both elementary and middle school students. Please read below to learn more about January's events as well as upcoming events for both students and parents!

Please remember that I am here to support the students however I can. I am available to meet if a student needs help or just wants to talk! Don't hesitate to reach out if I can support you in any way.

My website is updated with links to resources and information!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Stiles

mstiles@greenhills.org

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Green Hills participated in the Great Kindness Challenge during the week of January 23 - 27th. Students enjoyed a spirit week with different dress up themes and kindness tasks for each day. Classes from different grades were paired up and encouraged to visit each other throughout the week to play games, read books, and work on kindness-related activities. Students from our Mustang Zone volunteered their time to help organize and facilitate the Kindness Stations each day during lunches. All students had the opportunity to visit the Kindness Stations to make crafts, write thank you letters, fill out compliment cards, and color pictures for others. We are so grateful to our amazing PTA for providing italian ice for all of our students during lunch one day! Our students also had the opportunity to enter a raffle by completing their GKC checklists and turning them in. The generosity of our PTA allowed us to purchase prizes for a student in each grade level! The week has been a highlight of the year, and I'm so grateful to our entire school community for participating!

Brian Chevalier brought a wonderfully interactive assembly to our students in grades K - 4! The assembly was music-based and focused on themes of empathy, compassion, and kindness. Students learned new songs and were encouraged to actively participate throughout the program. Brian taught movements to go along with the music and invited students to join him in the front for a variety of songs. The program was purposeful and very engaging, and the students seemed to love it!

The Pass it Along organization, who has worked with our students for many years, visited our 8th graders in January to offer their Discover Your Passion and Purpose workshop. Students met with program facilitators during phys. ed. for three days to help create connection, passion, empathy and purpose. Discover Your Passion and Purpose focuses on self-awareness, gratitude, and service, and encourages students to find ways to make a difference in their community. We are grateful for our partnership with Pass it Along!

Our 8th grade students are beginning to plan for their Freshman year of high school! Many students will be visiting Sussex Tech in the coming weeks to interview for their specific shops, and we wish them all the best of luck! All 8th grade students will have the opportunity to visit Newton High School on February 15th, where they will hear from students and staff about all of the exciting programs that Newton offers. Counselors from Newton will be visiting Green late this month to meet with 8th grade students and their guardians and work on scheduling freshman classes. More information about these meetings will go out this week!

Representatives from the Mental Health Association of Morris and Essex will present a program focusing on coping skills for children and teenagers. They will offer a comprehensive review of anxiety and depression, how these conditions present in children and teens, how parents can help, what kinds of communication strategies can be helpful for parents, and how emotion-focused and problem-focused skills can be helpful for children in dealing with stress. They will also offer numerous resources for parents to keep on-hand.

Please click here to RSVP for this event.

Our students in grades K - 4 will be visited by LEAD U teaching artists later this month for an assembly focused on kindness, empathy, and leadership! From LEAD U's website: "Lead U is a positive group of teaching artists who creatively engage, educate, and empower learners of all ages to find the leaders within themselves. JD Wilson, founder of Lead U served overseas in the United States Air Force from 2006-2010. After four years of military service, he became an elementary school teacher in New Jersey. In 2016, JD decided to step back from the classroom and build Lead U, a company that focuses on creating Personalized Empowerment Experiences for learners of all ages." We are thrilled to welcome them to Green Hills and have them share their message with our students!

We are extremely excited to announce the creation of a new student organization at Green Hills School! The Mustang Zone is a club for students in grades 6 - 8 who want to strengthen the culture and climate at school. Mr. Bollette and I will meet with students to discuss various ways that we can build a school community where everyone is respected and supported. The mission of the Mustang Zone is to provide a welcoming, safe, and inclusive space for all members of the school community. The Mustang Zone will work to understand the value of each others’ differences and to create a strong sense of belonging here at school. Working as a group, students will plan and facilitate school-wide activities designed to foster a culture of acceptance and understanding. We will also focus on community outreach, and we hope to plan fundraisers and family events. I cannot wait to see the positive impact this group will have on our school and community!

We are currently meeting during extended homeroom time on Tuesday mornings, and may add additional meeting times as the year progresses. All students in grades 6 - 8 are welcome to join! Please reach out to me (Mrs. Stiles) or Mr. Bollette with any questions!

It likely goes without saying that students might be feeling more stress and anxiety lately. One practice that can help decrease and manage overwhelming feelings when they arise is mindfulness. Mindfulness helps to bring our focus to the present moment to observe our thoughts without judgment. The practice can also help to minimize negative thoughts that can spiral out of control. I have created a playlist of short mindful minute exercises for students to listen to when they feel the need to reset their thoughts or emotions. I will be adding to the playlist (click here) throughout the rest of the year.

I have updated my webpage to include a virtual office where you will be able to find information and helpful resources! It is a work in progress, so be sure to check in regularly for new information! Click on my bitmoji above to take a look around!