The Tiger's Mind

Despite what you might be thinking, mental health and wellness newsletters can help you improve your mental health and well-being by providing you with regular doses of self-care inspiration and education, as well as by helping you stay connected to a community of people who understand and support you.

Tallassee City Schools created this monthly newsletter to feature various topics and resources to help maintain social emotional competencies and overall mental wellness for our students, families, teachers, and staff.

"Mentally healthy students are more likely to go to school ready to learn, actively engage in school activities, have supportive and caring connections with adults and young people, use appropriate problem-solving skills, have non-aggressive behaviors, and add to positive school culture.

Because children and youth spend the majority of their time in school, schools play an increasingly critical role in supporting these students and providing a safe, non-stigmatizing, and supportive natural environment in which children, youth, and families have access to prevention, early intervention, and treatment through school-based mental health programs."

-Read more at Youth.gov

Poor or not enough sleep can affect both our mental and physical health.

It can lead to:

• Increased anxiety and depression
• Moodiness & aggression
• Shorten attention span
• Memory problems
• Poor coordination
• Reduced performance in sports

If you are noticing any of these signs or symptoms try out some of these tips to improve your sleep.

It reminds me of a quote I had to memorize in my 9th grade history class with Ms. Rob. Some of you who also had her may remember, "Excuses are monuments of nothing that build bridges to nowhere. Those who use them are incompetent and masters of nothing." - Unknown.

There are variations of this quote all over, but this is the one that stuck for me. Some days I just don't want to eat right. I make an excuse that I'm stressed out, or it's a special occasion, or I have had a bad day. I love to exercise, but let's face it...building in TIME to make it happen is the hardest part. Because it's the hardest part, it often becomes our excuse. I try EXTREMELY hard not to allow excuses to keep me from exercising. It's my happy place, and it keeps me moving forward on tough days.

---Mrs. Spencer, Vice Principal, Tallassee Elementary

What's your happy place that keeps you moving forward on tough days?

MARCH

17: World Sleep Day/St. Patrick's Day/Q3 Report cards

20: First Day of Spring/International Day of Happiness

20-24: TCS Spring Break -NO SCHOOL

28: State Choral Performance Assessment

APRIL

National Stress Awareness Month

1: April Fool's Day

2: Autism Awareness Day

4-6 TES ACAP Testing

7: National Walking Day

9: Easter Sunday
10-14: SMS ACAP Testing

11-13: TES ACAP Testing

11: National Pet Day

14: National Garden Day

15: World Art Day

Like we call 9-1-1 for physical health emergencies 9-8-8 can be used for mental health emergencies AND for help navigating non emergency challenging moments & situations related to mental health and substance use.

• FREE
• Call or Text

• 24-Hours a Day
• Anyone, anywhere in the U.S.
• Spanish line, Veterans line, & TTY services available

Read more about 9-8-8 here.

Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome I have received since starting in February as Tallassee City School District's Mental Health Services Coordinator. We are all working hard to trailblaze this new position to meet the mental and social support needs of our Tallassee students, families, teachers, and staff. I work alongside of our school guidance counselors, administrators, and teachers to not only address concerns but to promote overall wellness. I'm proud to be on the TCS Student Support Team and I am looking forward to great things to come.

TCS District Mental Health Services Coordinator

F.E.E.T. Coordinator

McKinney-Vento Liaison

Email: Jen.Bafford@tcschools.com
Website: tcschools.com
Location: Southside Middle School, E B Payne Sr Dr, Tallassee, AL, USA
Phone: 334-415-4125