From Mr. Weatherholt
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High School Counselors to Meet with 8th Graders
On January 10th the Seward High School Counselors will be meeting with the 8th graders to go over high school registration for the 2017-2018 school year. They will talk to the students about what classes are available to 9th graders, provide them with information on the schedule, and answer any questions. They will also provide them with a registration form that will be due on January 31st. Students will be provided with a registration handbook, which will also be available on the Seward Public School website.
As parents please spend some time talking with your child about classes in high school. This is all new to them and they need guidance from both their counselors as well as their parents. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Baker or Mr. Fields at Seward High School or myself at Seward Middle School.
Bully Response Team
At Seward Middle School we have defined bullying as unwanted, harmful, repeated acts towards a person or group which involves a real or perceived power inbalance. The Bully Response Team, also known as the BRT, works hard to address and deal with bullying at Seward Middle School. The ‘team’ is made up of 7th and 8th graders who have gone through a selection process. A sticker on their locker also identifies team members so students know where they can go for help. SMS students are encouraged to go to a member of the team or go to one of the sponsors of the team if they suspect there is a bullying situation occurring. Undoubtedly their biggest job is to be the eyes against bullying in our school. We do not want our students to be bystanders as bullying is taking place.
Some of the activities the BRT are involved with are interventions with bullies and victims, providing posters on the walls of the school, making announcements, and making presentations. This year the BRT kids are planning on doing an activity called “sit with me” at lunch. It involves kids breaking away from their normal group and sitting with other kids they normally don’t sit with. The goal is that kids will develop relationships with other kids and hopefully make a connection with someone who they normally don’t hang out with.
Members and sponsors meet every week and amongst other things talk about how to react to bullying when it is experienced or observed. Mr. Weatherholt and Mr. Marroquin are the sponsors of the team.
The Power of School Connectedness
(Article from the December SCIP Newsletter)
The collaboration of families, schools and communities can help foster an environment that facilitates the healthy development of youth. Importantly, connectedness to school can serve as an important protective factor for youth. According to the CDC, research shows that “students who feel a genuine sense of belonging at school are more likely to do well in school, stay in school, and make healthy choices”. Specifically, studies on youth health and behavior have shown that strong connections at school can help young people:
- Get better grades
- Have higher test scores
- Stay in school longer
- Attend school more regularly
Additionally, students who feel connected to their school environment are less likely to:
- Use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
- Engage in sexual activity
- Carry a weapon or become involved in violence
- Have emotional distress or eating disorders
- Consider or attempt suicide
School connectedness is especially important for young people who are at increased risk for feeling isolated from others (CDC, 2016). Students who may feel “different” from the social norm may have more difficulty connecting with other students and adults within the walls of school. Strong family involvement, belonging to a positive peer group, supportive school personnel and inclusive school environments can help students feel more connected. Schools can enhance opportunities for students to feel connected to their schools by implementing the following six science-based strategies.
- Create processes that engage students, families and communities that facilitate academic achievement.
- Provide opportunities for families to be actively involved in children’s academic and school life.
- Provide students with the academic, emotional, and social skills they need to engage in school.
- Use effective classroom management and teaching methods to foster a positive learning environment.
- Participate in professional development opportunities to enhance your abilities to meet the diverse needs of students.
- Promote open communication, trust, and caring among school staff, families, and community partners.
Just as schools can take steps to promote youth connections to school, so too can parents. Parents can play an important role in fostering a positive relationship between their children and their school environment.
- Encourage your child to talk openly with you, teachers, counselors, and other school staff about his/her needs, ideas and worries.
- Get involved in your child’s school through parent advisory boards, committees or groups to help plan school policies and school-wide activities.
- Meet regularly with your child’s teachers to build positive relationships
- Keep informed about the expectations of your child’s school by talking to teachers and staff, attending school meetings and reading information the school sends home. Then, support these expectations at home.
When you consider the number of hours students spend within the walls of school each year, it is clear how important the academic environment is in fostering the healthy development of our youth. Schools, communities and families alike, equally play an important role in enhancing school connectedness. The importance of healthy relationships in helping students to feel like adults within school care about them and their individual wellbeing should be at the forefront of initiatives that strengthen valuable school connections.
References: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American Psychological Association
Perfectionalism: Healthy or Unhealthy?
During the past few months SCIP has distributed numerous materials on mental health disorders and substance abuse trends. We often emphasize problematic behaviors like low grades, skipping class and the list goes on, but what about the students that appear to be working hard in school and are not displaying problematic behaviors? Students are under significant pressure to succeed, to perform well and to be perfect. Grades, SAT or ACT scores, extracurricular activities and pressure from peers can be overwhelming for students. The pressure can be especially challenging for perfectionists.
According to Merriam-Webster, perfectionism is “the setting of unrealistically demanding goals accompanied by a disposition to regard failure to achieve them as unacceptable and a sign of personal worthlessness.” Perfectionism can begin at a young age, which may be expressed through tantrums or similar behaviors. Perfectionism goes beyond the “over-achiever” mentality. Perfectionists often set high standards and do not feel satisfied with themselves or the results. Perfectionists may spend a significant amount of time on an assignment or even one element of an assignment, making it very challenging to complete the assignment on time.
Signs of Perfectionism:
- Believes mistakes are a sign of weakness
- Frequently seeks approval from others
- Lives by self-created rules and expectations
- Procrastinates or misses deadlines
- Becomes depressed when faced with disappointment
- Becomes defensive when criticized
- Displays self-defeating behaviors and negative self-talk
- In some cases children may become so overwhelmed by certain tasks that they give up or become avoidant
It can be challenging to recognize signs of perfectionism because many perfectionists internalize their negative thoughts and feelings. Perfectionism can lead to low-achievement and low self-esteem. Perfectionists are more likely to have anxiety, depression or an eating disorder. Perfectionism can also cause significant amounts of stress, which can have long term effects on the body.
New research has also revealed a link between perfectionism and suicide. A perfectionist may appear like they are successful and happy, but on the inside they are struggling. Perfectionists want to be or appear to be perfect, so they put up a façade. Perfectionists may also have a strong desire to appear emotionally perfect, so they are not as willing to discuss suicidal ideations. If you believe someone is thinking about suicide, connect them to services immediately and help create a safe, non-judgmental space to discuss feelings.
Perfectionism is not all negative however. Small amounts of perfectionism are normal. Goal setting and striving to be your best self are admirable qualities to have. It becomes problematic when the goals are rarely met resulting in self-defeating behaviors and negative self-talk. Pay particular attention to the severity of the perfection-seeking behaviors.
Ways to Support a Perfectionist Child:
- Help children set realistic goals and expectations
- Focus on the journey rather than the end result
- Focus praise toward work ethic and character traits, rather than a grade in a class or on an exam
- Educate children on how to prioritize
- Discuss any worries or concerning situations
- Be a positive role model
- Help child develop confidence and positive self-talk
If you are a perfectionist and a parent, modeling positive self-talk can go a long way. Modeling healthy behaviors can help perfectionists children learn to cope with perfectionism. Mindfulness techniques, like meditation, can also help perfectionists, of any age, learn to be more in the moment and less focused on future stressors and anxieties.
To learn more about mindfulness use the link below.
Additional Mindfulness Exercises: http://www.pocketmindfulness.com/6-mindfulness-exercises-you-can-try-today/
Resources:
https://psychcentral.com/lib/six-ways-to-help-your-perfectionist-child-find-balance/
https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources-parents/social-emotional-issues/perfectionism
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moment-youth/201307/two-faces-perfectionism
http://www.rootsofaction.com/are-you-raising-a-perfectionist/
http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/09/alarming-new-research-on-perfectionism.html
Cyber Safety: The Influence of Social Media & Technology
In today’s digital world, understanding the influence of social media and technology on our youth is especially important. Not only is the age of adolescence a developmentally vulnerable stage, but teenagers are also amongst the heaviest users of social networking sites. The ability to access such social media sites as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat via smartphones and other mobile devices has made it even easier for kids to connect to the digital world. According to a study conducted by Pew Research Center (2015):
- 88% of all teens have cell phones
- 24% of teens report they go online “almost constantly”
- 71% of all teens use more than one social network site
- 1/3 of teens use messaging apps
- On average teenagers send and receive 30 texts per day
While there are no doubt benefits to social media and the use of technology (enhance communication, facilitate social interaction and help develop technical skills), it is important for parents to likewise understand the risks. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, adolescents’ limited capacity for self-regulation and susceptibility to peer pressure puts them at greater risk. Problems that are worthy of awareness include cyberbullying, sexting, privacy issues and sleep deprivation.
Cyberbullying
With increased access to social media and technology, today’s youth are facing a different type of bullying that can occur at any time and any place, making it difficult to escape. Cyberbullying is when someone repeatedly and intentionally harasses, mistreats or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones, computers or other electronic devices. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites or fake profiles. According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, cyberbullying is different from in person bullying as follows:
- Bullies can be anonymous and messages or images can be distributed quickly to a wide audience
- Victims are accessible 24/7
- It is often easier to be cruel electronically due to the physical distance
The stress and strain of cyberbullying can leave victims feeling hopeless and have lasting negative effects on the mental health and well-being of youth. Kids who are cyberbullied are more likely to:
- Use alcohol and drugs
- Skip school or be unwilling to attend school
- Suffer from depression or anxiety
- Have poor school performance
- Have lower self-esteem
- Have an increased risk for suicide related behavior
Sexting
Sexting is the action of sending sexually revealing pictures of oneself or sexually explicit messages to another individual or group. While teens who send these photos and messages may intend for them to go to one individual or a small peer group, there is no guarantee where the material will eventually end up. Sexting has the potential to negatively influence a teenager’s life emotionally, socially and legally. The information on the internet is there forever with the potential for future consequences. When a sexted message gets into the hands of unintended recipients, it can cause a great deal of emotional distress for the victim. Likewise, many teens do not understand the laws that surround texting. Those that receive an image and then redistribute that image could face charges. In 2009, Nebraska passed legislation that addressed the issue of teenage sexting. In general, under the law, individuals under 18 years of age or younger will not be prosecuted if they receive a sexually explicit image of a minor, who is at least 15 years of age, via text message and the subject of the image voluntarily created the image. If the recipient of the image distributes the image to anyone then such individual will be subject to prosecution under Nebraska’s child pornography statute and may receive jail time. The best way to prevent your teen from sexting is communication. Discussing the consequences of sexting is a good way to start. As a parent, familiarize yourself with the laws surrounding texting and stay informed.
Privacy Concerns
Teens share a plethora of information about themselves on social networking sites. Preadolescents and adolescents may lack an awareness of privacy issues and post inappropriate messages, pictures and videos without understanding that what goes online, stays online. 1 in 6 online teens say they have been contacted online by someone they did not know in a way that made them feel scared or uncomfortable (Pew Research Center). The good news is that according to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 60% of teen Facebook users keep their profiles private and most report high levels of confidence in their ability to manage their settings. Teen social media users report sharing the following personal information on their profiles:
- 91% post a photo of themselves
- 71% post their school name
- 71% post the city/town where they live
- 53% post their email address
- 20% post their cell phone number
Parents can educate their adolescents about the importance of privacy settings and communicate the need to be mindful of what they share and post via text messages, social media and online chat rooms.
Sleep Deprivation
It is no secret that tweens and teens often fail to get the recommended hours of sleep, but teenagers who routinely utilize their computer or mobile phones in bed are more than twice as likely to be sleep deprived than other adolescents (Sleep Review-Journal for Sleep Specialists, 2014). Night time technology use can profoundly influence the health and learning potential of our adolescents. The fact that kids can “connect” to their social world via electronics 24/7 can make disconnecting especially challenging. One report suggests that kids are driven to stay up late texting, chatting and gaming with their peers via phone, computer or other electronic devices for fear of “missing out”. Kids want to be in the know of all what is going on. Likewise, many kids turn to their devices and gadgets at night to simply pass the time. Communicating with kids to reassure them that their social life will still be there when they wake up in the morning, replacing electronic devices with books or magazines, setting electronic curfews and monitoring teenagers sleep and social media use are good first steps in creating healthy sleep habits in today’s digital world.
What Parents and Youth Serving Professionals Can Do
- Talk to children and adolescents about their online use and the specific issues that today’s kids face such as cyberbullying, sexting and privacy concerns.
- Become educated about the many technologies and social media sites youth are using.
- Develop a family online-use plan, with an emphasis on digital citizenship and healthy behavior.
- Supervise online activities through active participant and communication (monitoring software is available, but actively talking with youth about their use may be a more powerful influence).
- Instill in youth that using technology and having access to electronic devices is a privilege that requires a level of responsibility.
- Establish “electronic curfews”.
References: The American Academy of Pediatrics; The Cyberbullying Research Center; Pew Research Center; Sleep Review- Journal for Sleep Specialists; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; https://nobullying.com; www.mobilemediagurad.com; www.teensafe.com