SPS Monthly Wellness Tips

Continuing with our 23-24 focus on movement (physical wellness), connections (social wellness), and work-life balance (emotional wellness), consider the following: 

• Movement: Have you taken a look at the SPS staff gym discounts lately? Red Earth Yoga, Planet Fitness, OSU Colvin Center, and Total Health all offer SPS discounts. With the cooler weather coming, consider a gym membership.

• Connections: Try to model healthy social connections for your colleagues, your students, and your families. Here are some tips:   

• • Spend time and stay in regular contact with extended family, friends, and neighbors.

  • Set time aside for socializing in person, away from the distractions of technology and social media.

  • Listen to others without the distraction of your phone.

  • Participate in community events.

• Work-Life Balance: Comments on Work-Life Balance from SPS Instructional Coach Susan Weaver          I have watched many young children work to balance a scale. Rarely does it happen on the first endeavor. Multiple attempts eventually create equilibrium. This is certainly true as well in establishing work-life balance. While we often discuss the importance of sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and work hour boundaries, I have challenged myself to also consider the need to:  

  • Plan ahead: Some days require extra time to ensure all goes well. Then there are days that the planning ahead allows me to leave work in a timely manner without guilt. I am learning to organize and prioritize those tasks so I can accept the days when demands are higher and appreciate the days when demands are lower.

  • Embrace my strengths: Adapting and adjusting schedules to accommodate unplanned circumstances is often required. I am learning to lean into what I do well to address the flexibility needed while also managing the stress that often accompanies the change.   

  • Seek and accept support from those around me: Building relationships and recognizing the expertise of colleagues creates an environment conducive to everyone’s success. My desire is to move beyond the attitude that requires me to do it all on my own and allows me to celebrate what someone else contributes.

  • "Balance is not something you find; it's something you create." —Jana Kingsford

National Gratitude Month

November is National Gratitude Month, which reminds us to take a step back and be thankful for all we have. Gratitude can help us shift our perspectives to more positive ones and encourage us to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. We can help others do the same and feel appreciated for the good deeds and helping hands they lend. Gratitude Challenge: Try the Three Blessings exercise. This exercise has been scientifically demonstrated to be effective. 

Each night before you go to sleep: 

1. Think of three good things that happened today. 

2. Write them down. 

3. Reflect on why they happened.

SPS Wellness Innovator Spotlight  Contributed by Lincoln Academy Principal George Horton

At Lincoln Academy, we use our CARE Class to teach students life skills that will benefit them after graduation, strategies to find resources they need and help them learn how to be a positive contributor in society.  CARE stands for Curriculum, Attendance/Academics, Resources and Educational plans and some of the topics we have learned this year are Be The Best You Can Be Week, What is Job Readiness Week, Car Maintenance Week, What's Important to You Week, Laundry Week, Housing Week, Mental Health Week and Bike Maintenance Week.  

We are also working on improving our communication and feedback with students and parents.  This year we started our Lincoln Newsletter that highlights the amazing things Lincoln students are doing each nine weeks.  We've also started our monthly A-G conversations where Mr. Horton and Mrs. Baustert meet with students to discuss Attendance, Behavior, Credits, Effort, Feedback and Graduation plans.  These conversations are really important for students to know how they are progressing and what they need to work on.  

We've also started working on the resources and programs that are provided to our students.  The Our Daily Bread Marketplace added fresh produce, refrigerated and frozen food products and freezer bags for students to take home.  

Our library was recently approved by the Board to be renamed the William Grady Lambert Memorial Library and we are working to provide a dedicated library space for our students.  Lincoln students attend Turning Point Ranch to participate in the horse therapy program and our Dogs of Lincoln program will continue to work with dogs from the Humane Society.   We also started a partnership with Prairie Arts center for students to take painting, ceramics, sculpture and printmaking classes and are working on plans to start a guitar club.

Love this update, George and Lincoln team! Keep up the good work! 

SPS Student Support: Website and Resource Library

The SPS Student Support website has received an update. On this website, you will find all things wellness, mental health, and student support related. You will also find a new Resource Library which contains handouts you can use or share on topics ranging from the importance of sleep, to mental health warning signs, to healthy social media tips. 

Free Resources for School Staff

Did you know that there are several wellness apps and websites that offer free accounts and resources for teachers? Here are a few that stand out. 

• Calm App: Free Resources for Schools 

  • Free tools for resilient classrooms, including lessons and self-care guides 

• Headspace: Free Accounts

  • Headspace offers free access to K-12 teachers and support staff. Whether you’re feeling inspired to connect more with your students or you’re looking for a new way to bring calm to your classroom, Headspace can help students build healthy habits that last a lifetime. 

• Down Dog: Free yoga app for teachers 

Red Ribbon Week and Mad Science Contributed by SPS Substance Abuse Counselor Rachel Roberts

Rachel Roberts as well as several SPS counselors went above and beyond this year for Red Ribbon week! Here is an update from Rachel. 

This week was National Red Ribbon Week.  Many schools across the district had fun dress up days like, Are you “Red-y to say no to drugs' ' and wore red.  This year Stillwater Schools started the week off by launching a contest.  Pre-K through 2nd graders were given “Keys to their future” coloring pages and 3rd grade through 12 grade were asked to create posters that would encourage other students to “Be Kind to their Mind; Live Drug Free. Through the help of some amazing community partners and businesses, prizes for top entries will be awarded.  Prizes will include things like Ultimate Air jump passes, Bowling and Movie Theater passes, Amazon Gift Cards, Kicker Bluetooth Speakers, and much more!  The best part of this is that top ideas will be used to create posters to use district wide!

More than Contests and Dress up days, RRW is a week to really lay the foundation to have conversations about making healthy choices and being safe. The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Perkins Family Clinic Behavioral Health brought information and fun handouts to the Middle School this week.  Students received RRW themed bags filled with red glasses, fidgets, stickers, and educational information.  These items were a great way to spark conversations about making healthy and safe choices and reminders of how substance abuse can negatively impact their developing brains.  This week was also the start of 5th graders receiving an interactive and educational assembly called “Mad Science”.  Our first one was a success and students got to see first hand how Vaping can impact their lungs and bodies in a negative way, while learning some fun science words.   8th graders across the district were given a lesson in class from the Substance Abuse Counselor on how vaping Nicotine and THC can impact their developing brains.  

As you think about Red Ribbon Week certain questions may cross your mind like:  When should I talk to my kid about drugs?  Am I worried that my child may already be experimenting with substances?  The earlier you can start the conversation about being safe, healthy choices and use age appropriate information ... .the better.  The foundation for saying NO to drugs and peer pressure starts early.  If you have any questions please reach out to Rachel Roberts, [email protected] or check out her website.  Here is another helpful link/resource  Link

Upcoming Events:

• November 4th: Gobbler 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon at Boomer Lake 

  • Race starts at 8:00 am; find more information and register here. 

• November 10th: 2023 United Way Pickleball Tournament 

  • United Way is hosting a Pickleball tournament! Never played before, no worries! This session is meant for beginners! This is a great opportunity to try out the sport to see if you like it, while playing with people on the same skill level as you. The 2023 Pickleball Tournament will be a round robin event open to all skill levels. Find more information here. 

• November 11th: Gobble Cross at Lake McMurtry 

  • Your favorite rowdy cross race is returning to Stillwater. A new course at Lake McMurtry will showcase some of the new trail improvements, plus some fun features! Register here. 

• November 11th: Transformational Breathwork Workshop 

  • Wondering what breathwork can do for you? Join Red Earth Yoga for their transformational breathwork workshop to find out! Learn more here. 

• November 14th: NEAR Science-Beyond ACEs Free Virtual Training @10:30 am 

  • Join us for a science-informed, evidence-based curriculum that will walk you through: How toxic stress and trauma affect the brain (Neurobiology); How trauma can be passed down through generations (Epigenetics); In-depth information about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study findings; and Building strength and capacity in individuals and communities through resilience (Resilience). Register here. 

•  November 16- December 23:  Modella Art Gallery Small Works Holiday Market

  • 721 S. Main Stillwater, OK 74074 https://www.modellagallery.org/