Nurturing Kindness: September´s Journey to Spreading Joy!
Hey there, amazing parents and students!
As the leaves start to change and the scent of fresh beginnings fills the air, we're excited to delve into September's mental health theme: Kindness. This month, let's journey outward to discover the power of kindness and how it can impact others. This month, we worked to spread joy and smiles to all in Duclos School!
Kimochis:
This month, Mrs. Baillargeon and Ms. MacEachern introduced students to the Kimochis characters and their meanings. We now have several “Kimochis Corner” bulletin boards up around our school. These boards help students remember the characters and the keys as well as the character kotowazas. Kotowaza means proverb in Japanese. The "Kimochi kotowaza’s" are meant to inspire students to practice meaningful actions when they have a specific feeling. Below you will find the Kotowazas that we have linked to each Kimochi character:
Bug- Put your brave in front.
Lovey Dove - Friendly faces create friendly spaces.
Huggtopus- For silly to be fun, it has to be fun for everyone.
Cloud- It is okay to be mad, it is not okay to be mean
Cat- Everyone makes mistakes, everyone deserves a redo.
Virtue of the Month: Kindness
Our virtue of the month for September is kindness. During Monday morning assembly, students watched a virtual story time that described how kindness can greatly impact someone's life. Mrs. Baillargeon and Ms. MacEachern encouraged students to explore the contagious nature of kindness by spreading smiles throughout the school!
Resource Roundup: Nurturing Kindness
Explore these carefully selected resources for parents and students of all ages, designed to inspire and cultivate kindness:
- 31 Kindness Activities for Kids - Discover ways to initiate and experience acts of kindness firsthand.
- 11 Fun Kindness Activities for Kids for Random Acts of Kindness Day
For more resources, check out the Kindness page on the NLPS website.
Nurturing Compassion: Tips for Students
Students, let's embrace compassion:
- Random Acts of Kindness: Surprise someone with a small act of kindness. It could be holding the door open, offering a genuine compliment, or helping a classmate with their backpack. These little gestures can brighten someone's day and create a ripple effect of kindness.
- Active Listening: Practice the art of truly listening to others. Put away distractions, maintain eye contact, and show genuine interest in what they have to say. By being fully present and attentive, you validate their feelings and show that you care.
- Empathy Exercises: Put your empathy muscles to work by imagining yourself in someone else's situation. How would you feel? What challenges would you face? This exercise helps you understand and relate to others on a deeper level, fostering compassion and understanding.
- Volunteer: Engage in community service or join a service club at your school. By actively participating in projects that help others, you not only make a positive impact but also develop a sense of compassion and social responsibility.
Meet the Counsellors:
This year at Duclos, our Student Advocacy Counsellors are Mrs. Baillargeon and Ms. MacEachern! Mrs. Baillargeon is a full-time Counsellor here at Duclos, and Mrs. MacEachern can be found on Monday mornings, and all day Wednesday and Thursday! For any mental health needs, big or small, you can depend on our Duclos Counsellors to brighten your day!
Our Student Advocacy Counsellors will also be starting small groups in October. If you feel your child needs to improve their social or emotional regulation skills please contact your child's classroom teacher so they can be referred for group!
Need guidance or wish to discuss well-being? Our Student Advocacy Counsellors are here for you. Reach out at janice.baillargeon@nlsd.ab.ca or madison.maceachern@nlsd.ab.ca or call (780)-826-3992. Let's continue our journey of compassion and kindness together.