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In a recent assembly, our middle school students reflected on these words.
“Stress is a normal and healthy aspect of being human. It occurs anytime we adapt to new demands and it almost always fosters growth.” ~ Lisa Damour, Ph.D.
Managing healthy stress is something we can both model and support our middle-schoolers through during this busy time of the school year. Dr. Damour shares that balancing healthy stress with times of recovery is key to growth. When I spoke with the students, we talked about how this is similar to learning a new instrument daily and then taking a break to recover. It is also like doing an intense workout and then allowing those muscles to recover. The overall goal is balance.
Learning Specialists Andea Arner and Kelsey Pacenka shared some incredible study techniques in an assembly for the entire Middle School. I encourage you to ask your children about the Pomodoro Technique and how they could use it this exam and final project season. They also created an Exam Prep Bingo for seventh- and eighth-graders as well as the Active Studying Challenge for sixth grade.
Staying mentally healthy is as important as protecting our physical health. Here are some tips and tools to help middle-schoolers prioritize their mental health during this time of the school year.
Sleep
Adolescents need approximately nine hours of sleep each night. Many studies tell us that our middle-schoolers are not getting enough sleep. One of the first questions I ask a student coming to my office for support is about their quality and amount of sleep. Click on this article (“Teens and Sleep: The Cost of Sleep Deprivation”) for more information about the importance of sleep from the Child Mind Institute.
Recovery
Recovery time will look different for every student. I encourage them to explore some ways they can care for themselves. For some students, it might be a physical activity like shooting baskets or going for a walk in nature. For others, it might be creating or listening to music. Journaling or drawing might also serve as a good activity to reset, prepare and relax.
Staying Positive
If your middle-schooler is feeling particularly stressed about the major assessments this time of year, encourage them to take a moment to see the whole picture of their education. These exams and projects are simply a piece of their learning. Encourage them to have confidence in all of their hard work so far this school year. Teachers, counselors and learning specialists are all here to help. Encourage your student to seek help from the faculty if they are struggling with organization or nervousness as the end of the semester approaches.
Here are some other resources to help promote mental health as students prepare for the end of the semester:
Wishing you and your family a healthy and balanced exam season and a peaceful Winter Break!
Sincerely,
Amy Brooks
Middle School Counselor
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