Stress Awareness Month | Posted 4/4/24

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. Stress and poor mental health are one of the biggest public health challenges that we’re facing. Sadly, even though that is the case, we are still not taking its impact seriously enough. We continue to separate mental health from physical health and vice versa. The reality is they cannot be separate – they are two sides of the same coin. There is no health without mental health and stress can lead to numerous health problems (https://www.stress.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-month).

It's critical to recognize what stress and anxiety look like, take steps to build resilience, and know where to go for help. Mental Health America (MHA) provides some tips on how to reduce your stress by utilizing a Stress Screener. Also, take some time to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and familiarize yourself with strategies for stress management (https://hr.nih.gov/working-nih/civil/national-stress-awareness-month).

January is Mental Wellness Awareness Month | Posted 1/17/24

This is a time to recognize the importance of attending to our mental health, especially considering the prevalence of challenges that exist in our world. Remember, mental health is just as important as physical health, and they often go hand in hand.

As we begin 2024, we should consistently make an effort to check in with ourselves and our loved ones. Mental Wellness Awareness Month serves as a reminder to prioritize your mental health, find ways to release stress, increase happiness, and improve the quality of your relationships. You can participate by creating intentional time with people who are important in your life, practicing gratitude, and balancing time between responsibilities and things you enjoy.

Resources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health

https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/11-self-care-tips-for-teens-and-young-adults/

https://www.homeworkhelpglobal.com/us/blog/self-care-ideas/

Wellness Wheel

World Kindness Month | Posted 12/22/23

On November 13th, the world celebrated World Kindness Day. It is a special day that serves as a gentle reminder to spread kindness wherever you can. You may never know the invisible struggles someone is facing, and coming from a place of compassion and understanding may allow you to see people or situations differently.

As most of you know, we have a Kindness Club here at school, and the members of our club came together and organized some great ways to appreciate the kindness of others at Newark! Every week, members wanted to recognize a different teacher based on the results of a survey they created for students to ll out. They received great feedback, and were able to identify four teachers to acknowledge on the announcements: Mr. Cooper, Mr. Hall, Mrs. McCoy, and Ms. Quillen. We appreciate all teachers and staff who help to make Newark a kinder place!

On the student side, teachers and staff were asked to nominate students seen doing kind acts around the school for the whole month of November. By doing this, we wanted to convey the message that kind acts, no matter how big or how small, can have an impact on others without you even realizing it. Sometimes, our kindness is not always recognized or appreciated, but that doesn’t mean we should stop being kind.

We had 12 students who were nominated, and they all received kindness award certi cates to commemorate their nomination. From the nominees, three names were randomly chosen to receive a prize. Our rst winner was Jayden DeBoard, our second winner was Jacob Seyller, and our third winner was Kiara Wesseh.

Thank you for continuing to spread kindness throughout the school!

Student Services Giving Tree | Posted 11/21/23

Student Services has organized a giving tree this year for families that are in need of support this holiday season. Please see the instructions attached (PDF) and reach out to Sarah Elliott, school social worker, for any questions or concerns. Thank you, and have a wonderful week!