WellBeing

Please note that the Wellness Centre will continue to run York Workspace, where you can get help as you work on assignments - but now it's virtual!

Workspace is a great place for students to drop in when they could benefit from speaking to a Learning Strategist or teacher about how to tackle an assignment or their overall workload. It is also the place for students who have overdue assignments. All students who have overdue assignments are required to join their grade's virtual workspace at 2:15pm each day for an hour where they will work on finishing up that assignment.

Time: 2:15 - 3:15 pm

Place:

Grade 9 https://meet.google.com/eyf-dbjx-gzt

Grade 10 https://meet.google.com/gzc-ibpy-fjt

Grade 11 https://meet.google.com/bhy-scgr-dvt

Grade 12 https://meet.google.com/xsn-tqfa-owb

It is hard to believe that Covid-19 has been part of our lives and our school experience for almost 2 years. From the terminology that has infiltrated into our lexicon, to the risk mitigation strategies that we have incorporated into our daily routines, to how we engage with the people in our lives - the impact of the pandemic is pervasive and, with this latest wave, seemingly frustratingly never-ending.

We are acutely aware of the impact of remote learning for students. While admittedly some students have flourished online, many of our students and and families have articulated a number of significant challenges including feeling lonely, disengaged and exhausted by too much time in front of a screen.

As a school, we are committed to teaching and leading through relationships. As we return to remote learning, our goal is to prioritize students' connections with their teachers and with their peers. We are continuing to parent, teach, work and learn through arguably the most dramatic crisis of our collective lifetimes. Through a trauma-informed lens, we are guided to prioritize the critical role of addressing stress, anxiety and sadness and limiting our expectations of ourselves and our children, so that good learning can occur. Coping through a crisis looks different for different people; irritability, lethargy and inattention are examples of anticipated behavioural changes. The way that we, as adults, communicate understanding and problem solve to reduce stress reinforces learning in what I see as some of the most important lessons of all - that is the ability to understand, honour and share one’s authentic experience.

This pandemic has taught us many things - adults and young people have been tested in ways which have highlighted their resilience in the face of really difficult challenges and we have witnessed the power of community as we have come together to look after one another. We will continue to leverage our learning over the past 22 months to help our students navigate this latest phase of remote learning. As always, we have many supports available for our students and families, please do not hesitate or encourage your child reach out to your child's teacher, homeroom teacher, advisor or a member of the Wellbeing team if you perceive that additional support is required.

Wishing you good health, Elissa (Associate Head - Wellbeing)

Your Best is Good Enough:

April 2, 2020.

I recently saw a meme that read “I’m either coming out of this quarantine 20 lbs lighter, chakras balanced and a house full of completed craft projects or...20lbs heavier with an unhealthy relationship to Amazon” and couldn’t help but laugh. Personally, I have been inundated with sage advice about how to maintain my physical fitness and diet, how to make the most of this family time and how best to set up a home classroom. I’ve seen post after post of offers of free pilates classes, cooking demonstrations and knitting circles. All amazing and, collectively, more than a bit overwhelming. In truth, my husband and I, like many of our parents, have been working non-stop. As a result, we haven’t set up a one-room schoolhouse in our home, rather, we are doing the best we can to manage everyone’s needs while our kids watch way more TV than they typically would; all the while knowing that this is just fine. Parenting, as we know, is about the long haul. lt is about the combination of a million little moments, some of which we knock out of the park and some of which could benefit from a do-over. In difficult times, we need to have faith in our children’s resilience which allows them to weather the not-so-perfect at home, in school, and in the broader world.

As we continue to learn how to navigate the unfamiliar, we must recognize that our resilience and ability to cope will be tested in big and little ways. My guidance to parents is the same guidance I shared with our faculty last week. Be kind to yourself. If you are at home making elaborate meals that you’ve never had the time to make before - awesome. If your kids are on their fifth meal of KD this week - also fine. Your best is good enough. In embracing this mindset, you are modelling a critical message to your children - their best is also good enough. They have been asked to adapt to an awful lot and quickly. Learning online is different than learning in a class filled with kids. Being confined to home feels different than playing and socializing with the hockey team.

Inherent in this challenging time is a tremendous amount of loss. From families who are contending with serious illness to senior students who are worried about missing graduation to children whose fundamental sense of safety in the world has been diminished, across the globe and across generations, we are all grieving. Young people and adults alike are working to process loss while simultaneously being asked to live, work and learn in fundamentally changed ways - an incredibly tough challenge.

Adaptation to our new normal will come in phases. As a school, our primary goal is to adjust our practice to our students, parents and faculty’s evolving needs. The relationships we have at The York School will ensure that honest, reflective feedback is shared and will guide our iterations. Parents, trust yourselves. Yes, we are parenting in very unfamiliar circumstances but you are still the same parent and your child is the same child. You know your child best. Help us know what is working for them and what is not. We will continue to learn as we go, together, with the maintenance of the wellbeing of our entire community being our north star and most important goal.

Wishing you good health, Elissa

Craving Routine and Normalcy:

March 17, 2020.

I know that I am not alone when I say that parenting through "unprecedented times" and "uncharted waters" is incredibly, incredibly challenging. As parents, we are faced with the complex dual demand of managing our own worry while guiding our children through this worldwide crisis.

As I reminded our older students today, the anxiety generated by this situation, whether it be regarding the unknown of what lies ahead, worry about the health of loved ones, or practical concerns about the impact of social distancing is a normal and, in fact, important response to a most uncertain time. Anxiety alerts us to threats and causes us to behave differently in response to that threat, for example, the current hyper vigilance regarding hand washing. Too, I reminded our students that the best way of managing anxious feeling is to focus on that which is within our locus of control.

Some things to consider:

In uncertain times, children and adults alike crave routine and a sense of normalcy. Once March Break is over, our distance learning plan will allow students to get back into a routine which, while different from their regular schedule, will give structure to their day. Distance learning will require considerable screen time so it will be particularly important to ensure that students (and their parents) take regular breaks from screens and get outside for some fresh early spring air. We know that being cooped up inside is not great for anyone's wellbeing.

This is an excellent opportunity for us, as adults, to learn from our children's ability to digitally bridge social distancing. This is their wheelhouse! We all need to find opportunities to emotionally connect even when we are physically apart. If you have really young children who can't do this on their own, consider helping them write notes, call or facetime with relatives and friends.

Limit exposure to COVID-19 coverage. While it is clearly critical to remain informed, the constant stream of what feels like mostly bad news can be overwhelming. Talk to your child about how they feel when they listen/watch/read the updates and model setting healthy media consumption boundaries. As well, there is a real opportunity to consider where we are turning our attention. In times of crisis, it is always uplifting to "look to the helpers" and celebrate the strength of the human spirit. Personally, I have been so touched by videos of Italians singing to one another from their balconies, certainly finding the "good news" stories can feel like a much needed antidote to the steady stream of scary stuff.

At their core, young people want reassurance from adults that they will be okay. Helping children to see that the whole world is working together to solve this issue is an example of an honest and positive message of reassurance. Consider the age and tolerance level of your child when talking about COVID-19 at home. Even if they are not part of the conversation, many children are exceptionally attuned to their parents' tone and emotional state. Keep in mind that is critical for parents to recognize and manage their own feelings of worry and stress in order to effectively help kids manage theirs. If you are struggling, you are definitely not alone.

I invite you to reach out to me or any member of the Student Support Team.