SEL Tips of the Weeks

Week of 02/26: Transitioning Back to School

Welcome back students! As we re-enter school after February break, and shift from a “break” mindset to a “school” mindset, there are a few executive functioning tricks we can do to help with the transition. 

1. Revisit and re-establish your school routines! Our brains thrive on stable and consistent routines and expectations. Write down your schedule and a to do list to help visualize your tasks. Think about important dates and deadlines to prioritize what order the tasks need to be completed based on level of importance. 

2. Slowly incorporate your responsibilities! For most, not only is school resuming but other activities such as sports, arts, work, etc. To help the transition not feel too overwhelming, use a visual timer and block schedule to manage your time. Don’t forget to create time for self-care tasks and preferred activities during this time too.

3. Be gentle with yourself! Transitions are hard and things are not going to feel the same as they did before break. It may take a minute for the academic momentum to return but it will come with time. 

We are so happy to see you back at BLS! 

Week of 02/12: Healthy Relationships

Hello students! Since this Wednesday is Valentine's Day, we thought it would be the perfect time to start a discussion about relationships of all kinds and how healthy connections can help us to learn new things and make us feel good about ourselves. Everyone deserves a loving, safe, healthy relationship. 

To evaluate the health of your relationships, see how well you agree with these statements: “Both my partner and I are…”

• Communicative 

• Respective

• Trusting

• Honest

• Making mutual choices with equal control or responsibility 

• Autonomy to choose how and when you engage in a activity 

• Equally enjoying time together and time away from each other

And remember, anyone can be your Valentine (friend, classmate, family member, etc)! All types of relationships are worthy of celebrating! 

Week of 2/05: Dealing with Disappointment

Hello students! As term 2 comes to a close and we begin term 3, it may be the case that you’ve encountered some setbacks or feelings of disappointment. You’ve gotten through half the year and that is an achievement in itself. Even if your grades aren’t what you were hoping for, don’t forget you are more than a number. Here are some tips we like to keep in mind to better deal with disappointment and proactively bounce back from setbacks. 

• Be kind to yourself! It’s important to address your disappointments, but first you need to take care of yourself so give yourself time to process.

• Surround yourself with good people! choose to surround yourself with positive people who validate your feelings and recognise your contributions and hard work.

• Engage in something you love! Don’t underestimate the power of a little exercise, laughing, or spending time on hobbies you enjoy can have to inspire and motivate you. 

• Learn from your experience! Sometimes the best way to learn is through failing, getting up and trying again. Try and figure out where you went wrong the first time, acknowledge it, change your approach and set new goals to begin a new path. 

Week of 1/29: Resilience Building

Hello students! As we conclude the first month of 2024, let's reflect on our journey of self-discovery and growth. In previous weeks, we explored the concepts of Self-Compassion, Strengths Acknowledgement, and Optimistic Affirmation.

This week, our focus shifts to Resilience Building, empowering you to develop the skills to bounce back from challenges. By engaging in resilience-building activities, you can enhance your ability to cope with stress and navigate difficult situations effectively. Here are a few examples of resilience-building activities you can incorporate into your daily routine:

1. Yoga or Stretching: Embrace the practice of yoga or simple stretching exercises to release physical tension and promote relaxation.

2. Reflective Writing: Dedicate time to write about a recent accomplishment or a challenging situation you handled well. Reflect on the strengths you utilized and how they contributed to your success.

3. Peer Appreciation: Share positive feedback with a classmate or friend about something they excel at. This fosters a supportive and affirming environment while helping you recognize and appreciate the strengths of others.

4. Visualization Exercise: Close your eyes and visualize yourself achieving a personal or academic goal. Imagine how your strengths play a role in this success and how it feels to accomplish your goal.

Incorporating these activities into your routine can help you manage stress, cultivate a sense of calm and comfort, and enhance your resilience. Remember, practicing self-compassion, acknowledging your strengths, and building resilience are essential components of your journey toward well-being and a positive mindset.

Week of 1/22: Optimistic Affirmations

Hello students! The SEL tips of January will continue to focus on promoting well-being and a positive mindset. Last week, we explored the concept of Strengths Acknowledgment, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and appreciating your unique abilities and qualities.

This week, we will shift our focus to Optimistic Affirmations, which encourages you to embrace the power of positive self-talk. By challenging yourself to say something positive about yourself each day, you can boost your confidence and optimism. Consider how incorporating optimistic affirmations into your daily routine can enhance your mental well-being and resilience. Here are a few examples of optimistic affirmations you can incorporate into your daily routine:

1. "I am capable of overcoming challenges and achieving my goals."

2. "I have the strength and resilience to navigate difficult situations."

3. "I am worthy of love, respect, and kindness."

4. "I am constantly growing and learning from life's experiences."

5. "I have the power to create positive change in my life and the lives of others."

By embracing optimistic affirmations, you can cultivate a positive and resilient mindset, enhance your self-esteem, and foster a sense of well-being. 

Week of 1/15: Strengths Acknowledgment

Hello students! The SEL tips of this week will continue to focus on promoting well-being and a positive mindset. Last week, we explored the concept of Self-Compassion, emphasizing the importance of being kind to yourself during tough times.

This week, we will shift our focus to Strengths Acknowledgment, which encourages you to embrace YOUR unique abilities and qualities. By recognizing and appreciating your strengths, you can boost your confidence and set the stage for success.

Take a moment each day to think about something you're good at and how it can help you succeed. Be generous to yourself and avoid comparing yourself to others. Sharing your strengths with a friend or family member can also be a great way to reinforce the positive impact of recognizing strengths. Here are two examples of activities you can try this week:

1. Visualization Exercise: Close your eyes and visualize yourself achieving a personal or academic goal. Imagine how your strengths play a role in this success and how it feels to accomplish your goal.

2. Positive Self-Talk: Practice positive self-talk by acknowledging your strengths and abilities. When faced with a challenge, remind yourself of your capabilities and how your strengths can help you overcome obstacles. Remember, practicing self-compassion and acknowledging your strengths are essential components of your journey towards well-being and resilience.

Week of 01/08: Self-Compassion

Hello students! The SEL tips of January will be about Self-Compassion and Resilience Building. This week, we will think about Self-Compassion, which focuses on being kind to yourself during tough times. By treating yourself with kindness and understanding, you can build resilience and cope more effectively with life's challenges. Take a few minutes each day to do something that makes you feel calm and comfortable. Here are two examples:

1. Guided Imagery: Listen to or create a guided imagery script (search guided imagery on YouTube) that takes you on a mental journey to a peaceful place. Visualizing calming scenes can help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calm.

2. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tense and relax different muscle groups in the body to release tension and promote relaxation. Try tensing your shoulders for 10 seconds and relax. Then do the same with different muscles. It takes less than a minute to relax your muscles when you feel stressed. This technique can help you become more aware of your body's response to stress and learn to relax your muscles.

Week of 12/18: Mindset

Mindset Monday!: Mindset refers to the way students perceive their own abilities, approach challenges, and view the learning process. Mindsets can impact our academic performance, our motivation, and our resilience. This week, try to foster a positive mindset for the week ahead with a positive/ inspirational quote. Here are two examples: 

• "Believe you can, and you're halfway there." – Theodore Roosevelt

• "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." – Mahatma Gandhi

Week of 12/11: Self-Awareness

In October, Ms. Vasquez shared with us that Self-awareness is the ability to recognize your own emotions and thoughts. Having self-awareness helps us to understand how our behavior impacts others. This week, try to set aside dedicated time each day to write down your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. This can help you better understand how you react to things, notice any patterns in your behavior, and learn more about your values and beliefs. When you put your thoughts into words, it makes it easier to figure out your feelings. The act of putting your thoughts into words can help you clarify your feelings and enhance self-awareness, enabling you to make more informed decisions and foster personal growth

Here are sample reflection prompts to guide your journaling this week:

1. Reflect on a recent challenge. How did you feel during this challenge? What emotions surfaced?What did you learn about yourself from this experience?

2. List three values that are important to you (e.g., honesty, kindness, perseverance) Why are these values significant in your life? How do your values shape your decisions and actions?

Week of 12/4: Coping Skills

Coping means using your thoughts and actions on purpose to handle tough situations inside and outside of yourself. This is different from "defense mechanisms," which are automatic responses you might not even realize you're doing. The goal of coping is to make stress go away or become easier to handle.

When something stressful happens, the different ways people deal with it are called "coping styles." Knowing how to cope is really important for keeping your mind and emotions in good shape. It helps you bounce back from tough times and deal with life's difficulties in a healthy and flexible way.

Here is a resource sheet with several coping strategies – one for each letter of the alphabet! This week, try to spell out your name and try some new coping skills!

Week of 11/27: Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations are positive messages you tell yourself to feel good about who you are and the world around you. They help you believe in yourself and challenge any negative thoughts. Research shows that saying these positive things regularly can boost your confidence, make you more optimistic, help you bounce back from tough times, and help you to see life in a positive way. When people make positive affirmations a part of their daily routine, it can make their mental health better, even reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

Raka, S. (2023). NURTURING  THE  MIND:  THE  POWER  OF  POSITIVE  AFFIRMATIONS  IN ENHANCING PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING. American Journal of Philological Sciences, 03(05), 43–47. https://doi.org/10.37547/ajps 

This week, let's challenge ourselves to embrace the power of positive affirmations. Take a moment each day to say something positive about yourself. Here are a few examples to guide you: 

• I can learn and grow in every subject.

• I believe in my abilities and my potential.

• Challenges help me get smarter and stronger.

• I can bounce back from setbacks.

• I'm proud of my efforts in school.

• I trust myself to make good choices.

• I deserve respect from others.

• I'm growing into a better version of myself.

• I let go of negative thoughts.

• I am a unique and valuable person.

• I am capable.