Funded by the Ohio Department of Education |
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Like spring, fall is a season of quiet transition, a reminder of the value of change. Now is the time to re-evaluate what things we are holding onto that we no longer need - by being grounded in our roots.
This season’s holidays remind us to be thankful for all we have in life and to spread kindness and love to those who are in need - by being an advocate to those who are bullied, by giving to those who have less than others and being compassionate to anyone who is different from yourself.
"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Student Wellness Department
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Student Wellness Free Trainings
Tuesday, November 9, 2021 (Zoom)
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
45 min. online role-play simulation / self-paced & private
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Outside Trainings
November 17 & December 1 (must attend both dates)
SPACE IS LIMITED
90 minutes with a trained instructor
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Every year, hundreds of thousands of American families become homeless, including more than 1.6 million children. November has been a time to acknowledge those children and families experiencing homelessness. Please find below local resources to help children and families who might be experiencing homelessness.
A Place for Me
Bellefaire JCB
Project ACT
The Family and Community Partnership (FCP) Liaison program established through the federal CARES Act is designed to meet the increased needs of vulnerable youth by connecting schools, families, and youth to community resources and local systems of care. Now, all ESCs have a staff member designated to identify and create partnerships to support vulnerable youth and families in their region. One of the focus areas for their work is homeless youth. If you would like more information or to connect with your local FCP liaison, please contact Heather Corcoran, at Heather.Corcoran@escneo.org, or Cathy Papp, at Cathy.Papp@escneo.org, for information on Lorain FCPL.
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Youth Homelessness Resources for School Staff:
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Anti-Bullying Awareness Week (Nov 11-14) |
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This comprehensive list of Bullying Resources for Educators and Parents should serve as a guide for educators and parents to help put a stop to bullying in schools and communities. The following areas offer numerous resources:
- Bullying Prevention Tips & Guidance
- Helping Kids Deal with Bullies
- Warning Signs of Bullying for Parents and Educators
- Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention
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World Kindness Day (Nov 13) |
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Children tend to model the behaviors of the adults around them, including their teachers. This requires a measure of conscientious intentionality on the part of educators. If students watch you regularly being kind—to them, to their peers, to their parents, and to other staff members—they will emulate that kindness in their own lives. Of course, this is easier said than done. We’re all only human, and some days, the myriad of stressors we all encounter make patient, compassionate behavior a struggle. Don’t fret; slipping up is part of the process. Instead, be kind to yourself, take the time to apologize when you were less than kind, and help your students learn a lesson about the inevitability of mistakes and the power of saying you’re sorry. Click here to read more.
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Kindness Activities for the Classroom |
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Human Rights Day (Dec 10) |
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As another year draws to a close, it can often be hard to think of something poignant to leave your class, something meaningful for them to take with them as they progress into another year of schooling. With the holiday season looming it can often be too easy to get caught up in the magic of gifts, vacations, and, depending on where you are from, long summer nights or warm fireside repose. Educating young people about human rights is a way of protecting the fundamental freedoms many of us take for granted every day. Knowledge of human rights and the laws that protect all people gives the students the skills they need to promote, defend and apply human rights in daily life.
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Globe Trottin' Kids provides quality products and resources to engage kids in:
- Learning about world geography and cultures,
- Understanding and appreciating diversity in our world,
- Becoming kind, caring, and responsible global citizens.
Globe Trottin' Kids Human Rights Resources:
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National Stress-Free Holidays Month |
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Given these changes, adults and children may experience waves of sadness, disappointment, loneliness, grief, and anger. It is important to not feel alone with these feelings, to have your feelings supported and validated by others, and to know that in the midst of these difficult times, you can create moments of joy, hope, and connection. While some traditions may have to shift due to these challenging times, this is also an opportunity to create new family traditions together. Click here for strategies and ideas for this holiday season and finding ways to make this year special.
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Ready or not, we are about to embark on the holiday season. For some, this is six weeks of pure joy, where each task is met with cheer and enthusiasm. For others, however, it can be overwhelming, anxiety-inducing, and even depressing. If you fall into the latter camp, and many of us do, there are ways to ease through the season. Here are some suggestions:
Accept Imperfection - remind yourself that things will seldom go exactly as planned and our lives rarely resemble Hallmark movies.
Don’t lose sight of what really counts - turn moments of frustration into an opportunity to reflect on things for which you are grateful.
Keep your regular routine - exercise at your usual time, stick to your normal diet as much as possible and get a healthy amount of sleep.
Ask for help - we all need an extra hand from time to time. There is no shame in asking others to pitch in.
Just say no - it’s okay to decline when you’re asked to do more than you can. Saying no is an emotionally intelligent skill.
Plan something special - give thought to what would make you really happy during this season. A massage? A hike in the park? An uninterrupted hour to take a bath and read? Whatever it is, make a plan and then make it happen. You deserve it!
Happy Holidays from all of us in the Student Wellness Department!
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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The holidays are a special time of year where family and friends come together in celebration and tradition. They can also be a reminder of the difficulties in family relationships or the loss of a loved one who has died. Holiday songs and commercials portray a fantasyland of the joys of family and our own experience of the season may look very different.
Often we find ourselves going through the motions of the holiday celebrations just to get through them. We avoid the emotions that might arise or we decide it is just too painful and avoid any festivities altogether. However, the holidays can also be a time of hope, offering us opportunities to reduce our stress and anxiety and find comfort and healing.
Join NAMI Greater Cleveland for Hope for the Holidays: Supporting Yourself at a Stressful Time. Facilitated by Carrie Nicholas, LISW, and Erin Hout, LPC, bereavement coordinators with Holy Family Hospice, this program will offer support and tips on how to cope with stress, grief, and other mental health challenges during the holiday season.
NAMI's Hope for the Holidays: Supporting Yourself at a Stressful Time
Wednesday, November 10, 2021, from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM via Zoom
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Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve
Explore self-care techniques and develop new habits for a healthier and happier teaching experience. This virtual session on November 8th will review how stress affects the brain and body and ways to mitigate stress in the workplace and beyond. Action steps for physical, social, emotional well-being will be shared.
ESCWR Educator Wellness & Stress Management
Monday, November 9, 2021, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM virtually
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Evaluating Your PBIS Implementation Using the Tiered Fidelity Inventory |
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The fundamental purpose of PBIS is to make schools effective and equitable learning environments. Research has shown that implementing PBIS with fidelity has a number of strong outcomes, including a reduction in problem behavior, increased academic performance, and improved perception of safety. But how do we know if PBIS is working in our buildings? How can we measure our PBIS implementation in order to make improvements that will lead to better outcomes? Enter the Tiered Fidelity Inventory - TFI for short. This research-validated instrument provides teams with a simple, yet comprehensive and effective way to measure PBIS implementation fidelity across all 3 tiers. It is recommended that the TFI be completed by building leadership teams early in the year so action steps can be developed and monitored as the year progresses. Now would be a great time, and this article, Tidy Up with the TFI, provides the information you need.
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In this month's newsletter, we are pleased to highlight a positive initiative that two Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio employees have implemented as part of the Ohio Online Learning Program. |
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Dan Ogilvy and Jaime Furda, Student Learning Advocates, with the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio, Ohio Online Learning Program, recently developed a Well-Being Calendar as a resource to help all members of the school community. The initial idea was to build a Virtual Community of Ohio Online learners focused on well-being, relationships, and communication skills. From there, Jaime and Dan felt it would be a great idea to take it a step further and offer ideas, resources, and tools to help all become better versions of themselves. The calendar is built from the work of Abraham Maslow (self-actualization), Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (childhood experiences), and Jane McGonigal (resilience).
After sharing with virtual learners, it was apparent that all students could benefit from the ideas of the calendar. Dan and Jaime wanted to broaden the reach, with the intent that schools can offer this as a resource to all families, as well as classroom teachers. Topics can be talked about in the car, at the dinner table, or during morning meetings. The hope is to stimulate conversation and help students navigate the world we now live in.
Dan Ogilvy is a Student Wellness and Educator Quality Consultant for the Educational Service of Northeast Ohio. Prior to working at the ESC of Northeast Ohio, Dan worked in CMSD for 18 years as a Teacher Leader and mentor. Using these experiences, Dan’s focus is on classroom culture and environment and how to help all students flourish.
Jaime Furda has a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Jaime served as a counselor supervisor at Bowling Green State University and leads the Ohio Online Virtual Community. Each week, Jaime leads 6-8th graders from the community in discussions on well-being, relationships, and self-awareness.
If you would like more information on this initiative,
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Throughout Ohio, you can text the keyword “4hope” to 741 741 to be connected to a trained Crisis Counselor. Data usage while texting the Crisis Text Line is free and the number will not appear on a phone bill with the mobile service carrier. People of all ages can use Crisis Text Line (www.crisistextline.org).
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Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio I www.escneo.org I 216-524-3000
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