With the holiday season upon us it can be exciting time for many families but it can also be a time of financial pressures and uncertainty for children and families too. Remember that what children and youth need the most is emotional connection and spending time with loved ones. Slow down this holiday season with a walk in nature with your family. Take time to notice the smells and your surroundings (engage all of your senses).  Bring a thermos of tea or hot chocolate and find a special place to sit down. Warm feelings and memories are created when children feel emotionally connected and safe to their loved ones.
If you feel you need a little extra help with getting a Christmas dinner on the table or a few gifts for the children please contact the Bow Valley Spirit of Christmas 
they are here to help.
Schools in both Banff and Canmore did their part in bringing awareness to bullying last month during bullying awareness week.  We also helped children remember how small acts of kindness can change someones day and the ripple effects can be huge. In this day and age we need more kind acts then ever. A simple smile and a hello is a great way to start. 
  Self-Regulation ... A Growing Movement
Evidence shows that self-regulation promotes thriving kids and thriving classrooms. In schools and districts across the country there is a growing awareness and commitment to self-regulation. 

  What is Self-Regulation?

According to the Canadian Self-Regulation Initiative:
'We take a broad and inclusive approach to self-regulation. But, generally speaking, we view self-regulation as the capacity to':
  • Meet life’s challenges, responding to  life’s stressors, returning to a calm and alert state, ready to deal with new  circumstances; and
  • Rise to life’s potential, supported by optimal conditions for learning, mental health & well-being, social engagement, and thriving. 


    http://www.self-regulation.ca/
Bullying goes beyond just being mean - please take the time to chat with your child about what Bullying is. We like to teach kids this acronym:
H - Hurtful
A - Actions or Words
R - Repeated
M - More than once to hurt or control others

Right from the Start along with some teachers from BES  attended a Self Regulation workshop with Mike McKay. We are excited to share some wonderful resources with you.

Over the next few months please look for updates on self regulation strategies you can implement at home. 


Biological Domain:

  • Physical health
  • Sufficient Energy across the day
  • Ability to recoup energy after taxing experiences
  • Ability to focus around distractions
  • Ability to follow healthy daily routines
  Strategies you can try at HOME:
  • Create space for quiet time
  • Organize work space with your child (dividers, head phones)
  • Playdough
  • Predictable schedule
  • Warnings when transitions are near
  • Visual timer (app)
  • Chunk Homework - give breaks
  • Rocking back and forth is calming; swinging outside or a rocking chair inside is helpful
  • Story: Sometimes I like to curl up in a ba; by Vicki Churchill
***Mark your calendars  ***
S oul warmers at Banff Elementary School is gearing up for the Christmas Craft Sale on DEC 8th watch for more information coming home on this.
BES Grade six girls messages on Girl Empowerment
 
Kindness Messages spread throughout the community
Kindness and Bucket Filling at ERS
A grade 4 Student and her GrandPal
  There are so many great things happening in our schools... 

Banff Elementary -
Dance in schools is happening for all of the BES grades - What a wonderful way to move the body, lift the spirit and have some FUN. Spirit Council is busy spreading kindness and the grade 6 girls club is working with the YWCA to foster girl empowerment. The grade 3/4 soulwarmers are gearing up for the Christmas Craft Sale on  DEC 8th. Mark your calendars and watch for more info on this.
At BES we highlighted KINDNESS as a powerful way to counteract bullying during Bullying Awareness Week. In collaboration with the Banff/Canmore Community Foundation's Kindness Day, students created a kindness label. These labels were collected and distributed throughout the community with a cookie on Nov. 16. Many heartwarming messages found their way to random people. 


Elizabeth Rummel School:
Lots of wonderful messages being spread at ERS this month around bullying awareness and how to combat bullying with kindness. RFTS helps support problems that arise on the playground and o f course common problems that are encountered in the classroom as well.  Soulwarmers meet every Monday at lunch and they'll be taking their kindness to the playground, sharing games, including others and giving compliments in the coming month.  
As the holiday approaches Deren will be talking to the classes about true meaning of giving!

Lawrence Grassi:  
On November 23 two grade 4 classes were able to meet their GrandPals and share in a few hours of baking cookies, playing board games and getting to know each other. This is a collaboration between CRPS/RFTS and Canmore FCSS! Cross generational connections are made and every year it's a beautiful fun filled event that both the Grandpals and Kidpals enjoy!  
The Grade 4 students have also been learning about effective ways to handle potentially difficult emotional situations.

BCHS: 
In November RFTS and the Youth Worker from AHS (Tanya Wood) will be going into BCHS and working with the grades 7-11 to talk about making informed decisions with digital devices. The main topic will be  on sexting. 


With so much information to sort through these days we thought it would be great to share  some great resources, blogs, websites and videos. Take a few minutes and see if any catch your eye... 

Mindful Life   - this link is for parents wanting to instill more gratitude in their family life.  Some great tips and ideas.

Just Breathe - A short video on how mindful breathing helps - for children, by children.

Neuroplasticity    -  2 min video to watch with your child on the brain. Have a great conversations about how our thinking, thoughts and what we say and do will actually change the structure of our brain.

Educating the Heart - This two- minute video captures the essence of what we know to be true.
 
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) - A TED Talk by Nadine Burke on the effects of ACES.  (this link is for adults to view)

Search Institute - 40 Developmental Assets - Discovering what kids need to succeed.



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ONGOING INFORMATION &
WEBINARS for PARENTS 

Community Education Service is pleased to present the following sessions:

Here are the remaining CES sessions for 2016 -

Collaborative Problem Solving Approach for Children, Youth and Families  also available via TH/Audioline

Nutrition Boot Camp

The New Guidelines on Screen Time for Preschool-Aged Children: The Importance of Interaction in Early Language Acquisition also available via TH/Audioline

Understanding ADHD and Strategies that Work also available via TH/Audioline

Your Child in Pain: How to Help, What to Do  - also available via webinar 

Connecting Before Correcting - only availabe via webinar

Are you ready for the questions your children are going to ask? How to talk with children & youth about sexuality

Creating a Culture of Respect for LGBTQ People  also available via TH/Audioline

Understanding Teen Mental Health through Exams and the Holidays

Register for webinars here

Register and watch recorded sessions here


 
Right from the Start