October 2022 - Positive Mindset
Welcome to our new monthly Counsellor Connections blog!
My name is Natalie Heffner and I have been the Student Advocacy Counselor at Glendon School since 2020. The kids call me Mrs. Heffner. I grew up on a farm in St. Vincent and now live just outside of Glendon with my husband, our two children, dog and family of cats. Some of my favorite hobbies include camping, quadding, playing and coaching hockey. Becoming a school counselor was always a dream of mine because I always wanted to be that person that was much needed when I was in school. My office door is always open for students to come to a safe place or if they just need a break or a snack.
Glendon School is primarily concerned with providing quality education as laid out by Alberta Education. Furthermore, we are equally concerned with the education of the total student. Such things as social skills, compatibility, authority models, punctuality, respect and common courtesy are values we believe are essential and which our staff works diligently to promote in our students. These attitudes and values cannot be tested but we believe them to be important in the shaping of the virtuous Canadian citizen.
This month we are focusing on fostering a positive mindset which will help us reduce stress and anxiety. At Glendon School, this means that we are working on changing our negative thoughts into more positive ones. We will be teaching students breathing strategies, relaxation and grounding techniques which will help reduce stress. Here is a video to try for elementary:
"Just Breathe" by Julie Bayer Salzman & Josh Salzman (Wavecrest Films)
Here is some more information about fostering a positive mindset for junior/senior high students:
https://chopra.com/articles/how-to-reduce-stress-through-positive-thinking-5-methods
Here are some activities you may want to do with your children at home that complement what we are doing at school this month:
Love movies? Pop some popcorn and make it a family movie night with Wonder! This movie can be accessed on Netflix, ITunes, or Hulu. The main character Auggie cannot hide what makes him different on the outside, and he uses his positive mindset to find the inner strength he needs to change people's perspectives on what it means to be yourself.
If you have older readers in your home, The movie Wonder was adapted from the chapter book Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Wonder has also been transformed into a picture book for younger readers. Here is a link to the read aloud of the picture book version: WE’RE ALL WONDERS by R. J. Palacio - Children's Book Read Aloud
Did you know that yoga helps manage anxiety, improves emotional regulation, boosts self- esteem and increases mindfulness, among other positive benefits? Start encouraging yoga in your home when children are young and see all the benefits yourself.
For more resources, check out the positive mindset page of the NLPS website: https://www.nlpsab.ca/mental-health
If you would like me to connect with your child or your family, you can contact me at the school at 780-635-3881 or by email at natalie.heffner@nlsd.ab.ca.
Stay tuned for next month’s theme and resources!