MEM Wellness Team

  Memorial Wellness Weekly Newsletter   Parent/Teacher/Community February 21, 2021 Culture   Diversity and Shaping Identity Our interactions within our communities, families, schools and workspaces influence how we identify ourselves. This includes how we communicate with ourselves and others. Our ability to decode culture and identity may or may not be easy within these settings. How often do we navigate through other cultures within our own communities?  Within everything there are influences of culture and identity. We ask children to read the room, acknowledge the setting, recognize body language - these are patterns of learning culture and understanding the environment. Because of difference of how context is learned, we all need to practice. There are so many ways culture forms identity and informs how we navigate, school, work and life.  How do we teach or embrace variances in culture? How does our culture define us and our children?  Connect with Cu...

  Memorial Wellness Weekly Newsletter   Parent/Teacher/Community February 14, 2021 Love   How Do You and Your Loved Ones Love? Quiz: What's Your Love Language (Quizes for Couples, Singles, Children and Teens) Loving others is hard but loving ourselves can be even more challenging. There is so much focus on romantic love, we often overlook the importance of nurturing how we need to be loved. Exploring our identity through the lens of love can be eye opening for ourselves and those who love us. Feeling loved and a sense of belonging for all of us is developed within our relationships. Having strong relationships build a sense of self and help us understand how we interact with the world in a social and emotional way. Relationship mapping is a great way to understand how our students "fit" in the communities they are involved in.  Video: Relationship Mapping at Your School Read of the Week: Llama, Llama I Love You By: Anna Dewdney Visit: Ms. Hodgdon's Interactive Offic...

      Memorial Wellness Weekly Newsletter   Parent/Teacher/Community February 6, 2021 Identity and Influence When people meet and ask "Where are you from?", what are they really asking? We are from our influencers, our experiences, our interests and passions. This is the same for everyone, our children, family and friends. There is a sense of belonging and agency to knowing why we are the way that we are. We are shaped by our strengths, our accomplishments, worries and traumas. Understanding ourselves will help us shape the ones we influence most, our children. Think about yourself and your influencers...  I am being a mother and daughter. I am from the outdoorsy, athletes and cooking crew. I  am from the sea air and the hot, hot sun. I am from the loving smiles and high fives. And the sharp words from a coach. We all have our own stories and they have shaped us.  Remember, you are in control of how you up in the world. I hope you choose to be big and ...

    Memorial Wellness Weekly Newsletter   Parent/Teacher/Community January 29, 2021 Empathy Gym It is a reflection process. Like any muscle, empathy needs to have a daily workout too! Understanding and feeling with our families, friends and students is that workout. Exercise #1: Focus on how we are similar to others rather than how we differ. This will strengthen our ability to connect with others and show our acceptance. Exercise #2: Turn empathy on and off. It's great to feel with others and interact deeply but be careful not to get consumed.    Exercise #3: Reps in Empathy can be rewarding. Active listening and sharing common experiences, allow for reflection, self-awareness and growth. Ready for your empathy workout - Start here. Positive Mental Health - When we share and model self-care, our loved ones benefit. Read of the Week: Leonardo the Terrible Monster By: Mo Willems Take this Quiz: What Unexpected Self-Care Technique Should You Try? Visit: Memorial R...

    Memorial Wellness Weekly Newsletter   Parent/Teacher/Community January 23, 2021 Time to Take an Inventory It is a reflection process. Being honest with yourself in a gentle, nonjudgemental way is self-care. When we engage from a place of integrity, we can stop, start and continue with parts of our life that create value. START - Jumping into something that we've been longing to try, we could follow a plan more consistently. When we commit to something that can add value to our lives, even if it is small, we can have big gains. STOP - Negative thought patterns, harsh tones and self-defeating comments don't help us move toward a better day. Just one positive affirmation leads to another.   CONTINUE - Take an inventory. What is allowing you to live your best life? Connections, quality time with family, new hobbies, a book, a recipe, a show - Making a list in your head is self-care, self-love and validating.  Positive Mental Health - When we share and model...