COMMUNITY WELLNESS IN THE WORKS

COMMUNITY WELLNESS IN THE WORKS is authored by Ms. Cailyn Gilvary, District SELect Leader, and Ms. Tiffany Steiner, Director of Intervention Services and Student Wellness.

In October, the Wall Township Public School community will celebrate the mindset, WE ARE CONNECTED, from The 7 Mindsets.

What are The 7 Mindsets and how were they identified?

The 7 Mindsets are based on a three-year meta-analysis study that asked a single question: What allows an individual to attain happiness in life? The researchers reviewed the most extensive and important studies on personal achievement ever conducted, analyzed hundreds of books, and directly interviewed over 500 of the world’s most successful individuals.

The 7 Mindsets are the result of these efforts: a comprehensive blueprint for meaning, happiness, and success, written in a language that is easily understood and, more importantly, ready to be applied to one’s life.

The 7 Mindsets approach is based on the premise that success depends less on what a person knows, and much more significantly on how he or she thinks. The mindsets provide the foundation for resilience, motivation, and meaning in life. By making small shifts in the way someone views the world and his or her future in it, endless opportunities can be created!

WE ARE CONNECTED

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

PASSION FIRST

100% ACCOUNTABLE

LIVE TO GIVE

THE TIME IS NOW

The WE ARE CONNECTED mindset teaches that everyone who comes into our lives can help us to achieve and live our dreams. Working with, for, and through others is crucial to realizing our dreams. When you understand this and constantly seek the positives from relationships with others, performance in every area of life improves.

The 4 critical components of WE ARE CONNECTED

• Embrace Everyone
• Maximize Positive Relationships
• Build Your Dream Team
• Lead with Value

COMMUNITY Connections:

• K-8 lessons on the mindset
• Classroom integration guide for teachers to extend the discussion
• Media Center displays books related to connectedness
• Daily morning announcements
• Parent newsletter from the principal

WEEK OF RESPECT

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act requires that the week beginning with the first Monday in October of each year be designated as the WEEK OF RESPECT in New Jersey.

The purpose of the WEEK OF RESPECT is to teach learners how to respect others, our school, our community, and ourselves, as well as how to prevent harassment, intimidation, and bullying situations.

SNEAK PEEK of Activities for WEEK of RESPECT

• WE ARE CONNECTED District Bulletin Board Challenge**
• WE ARE CONNECTED K-8 Classroom Lessons
• WE ARE CONNECTED WHS JENGA Challenge
• WE ARE CONNECTED Spirit Days

** Thank you to the National Art Honor Society, Mrs. Alexander, and Mrs. Kelly for creating all of the materials for the WE ARE CONNECTED bulletin boards.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE WEEK OF RESPECT ACTIVITIES WILL BE SHARED AT THE OCTOBER BOE MEETING!

LIFELINES is a student-centered curriculum that teaches basic information about potential warning signs for suicide, with an emphasis on what to do if one is worried about either himself/herself or a friend. It is designed to be delivered in the Health classroom to learners in grades 5, 7, 9, and 11.

A parent information session on the program is being offered on October 26th at 6:30 PM at Wall Intermediate School. We invite parents, guardians, grandparents, or other adults who play an important role in the life of a learner in grades 5, 7, 9 or 11 to attend.

WE ARE CONNECTED when we take the time to SEE others.

This video captures the reactions of people who participated in an experiment called the WORLD'S BIGGEST EYE CONTACT EXPERIMENT on the 29th of October, 2016. It demonstrates the response that arises from a minute of uninterrupted eye contact. Although we do not use this clip as an instructional resource, we do teach children about the importance of eye contact.

As parents, educators, and community members it is not uncommon to feel disconnected because of our busy lives. A little eye contact may be all it takes to revive our human connections!

What are you doing to support your overall well-being on a day-to-day basis? Do you engage in self-care practices? If not, try some of these positive self-care practices:

• Deep breathing
• Stretching
• Meditation
• Listening to music
• Exercising
• Reading
• Going for a walk
• Taking a bath
• Socializing with friends
• Sitting outside and relaxing
• Engaging in a hobby
• Subscribe to The 7 Mindsets app to receive an inspirational quote each morning

The 7 Mindsets app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The 7 Mindsets offers an app available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The app delivers a daily inspirational quote to help subscribers establish a positive morning mindset!

Below is an example:

We invite our community to subscribe and begin each day with an uplifting message!

Who is someone on your DREAM TEAM?

Take a moment to think about someone who is on your DREAM TEAM. Which traits does this person demonstrate that you admire?

Use a Word art app or website to record the traits of a member of your DREAM TEAM (see below sample). Display the word art somewhere you will see it often. This will help you remember why having this person on your DREAM TEAM is so important!

CHALLENGE: Share a copy of the word art with your DREAM TEAM. Showing an attitude of gratitude will help you maximize positive relationships in your life.

Ms. Steiner's Word Art for a Member of Her DREAM TEAM

Ms. Gilvary,

Thank you for being a member of my DREAM TEAM. All of these words remind me of you!

Your friend,

Ms. Steiner