Tag: students

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Ask Dr. Renae: Worried about the cost of the COVID school gap

Dear Dr. Renae,

I hear some teachers commenting on this school year being a lost year and all the students winding up a year behind. I am aware that I didn’t learn as much as I would have since online was not as good as in person for some subjects. I worry about being prepared for college entrance exams and college coursework. I am even more worried about my younger sister who is struggling to learn how to read. I notice how frustrated the teachers are as well. Many of my peers are upset about missing out on social activities but I am thinking about my future. Am I weird for worrying about my education?

Unprepared High School Junior

Dear Unprepared High School Junior,

It is completely normal to be worried about your education! Education is a major cornerstone in our lives, so I understand where you are coming from. It helps to remem-ber that every person in the world is facing the same issue that is happening to you, and so I believe people will be more mindful and understanding of the circumstances you have come from. You could not control the cards you were dealt, and educators know that. It is my belief that they will have to be accommodating to any issues that may arise from online education, if they would want to dutifully fulfill their jobs. Hopefully, I assuaged some of your fears, and I wish you the best of luck in your academic journey.

Your Fellow Teen

Dear Unprepared High School Junior,

It’s completely understandable being concerned about your academics. Commendable, even. Whilst students have been heavily affected by this pandemic, it’s important to re-main optimistic. Junior year is a crucial time for prospective university students but with everything going on, universities might be lenient with requirements. Now is also a fantastic time to build your student resumé. If you haven’t already decided on a university, now is the perfect time to take a look and reach out to universities. This is the fun part! As far as preparation goes, there’s plenty of practice SAT samplequestions available online as well as books to read. It’s important to be studious but not too hard on yourself. Stay safe!

A Caring Friend

Dear Unprepared Junior,

You are not weird for worrying about your education at all. From reading your submission, I can tell you care about your education which is really important. Since I’m not in college just yet, I asked my 25-year-old sister for some advice I could give you. The best thing she told me was from her college experience, as long as you keep up your studying, work ethic and motivation, you will be fi ne. To tell you the truth, she told me that high school did not prepare her for college; college prepared her for college. Stressing right now over something you don’t know will happen will drive you crazy! It’s best to start good habits during online school that you can later use in college. I hope this helps!

Your Friend

Dear Unprepared Junior,

It is true that most students did not learn as much academic curriculum as they would have if school was in person as usual. The timing and speed at which learning takes place, however, is not indicative of future happiness and success. Many professionals took an unexpected alternative path and timeline in preparing for their career which helped better lead them toward  success. Struggling with the lifestyle changes required during the pandemic has given you an opportunity to learn much more than academics. Conquering boredom and anxiety, along with navigating a new daily structure has taught you flexibility, creativity, and perseverance. Those skills help you to be significantly prepared for college as well as your future. Take pride in the personal growth you have experienced in order to acquire more confidence in your ability to adapt to the future.

Dr. Renae

 

TEENS: Curious as to what other teens would say? If you have a question or problem you would like to present to other teens, please email: askdrrenae@att.net and include your age, grade, and gender you identify with. All questions are published anonymously and your identity and contact information will be kept confidential.

PARENTS OF TEENS: Would you like to anonymously and confidentially ask the panel of teen Peer Counseling Writers to comment on a parenting issue you are struggling with? If you are ready for a variety of honest opinions from real teens, please address your questions to askdrrenae@att.net.

Dr. Renae Lapin, a licensed marriage and family therapist with 40 years experience, currently maintains a private practice in Boca Raton, Florida.

For more information about Dr. Renae and her practice, visit her website: https://askdrrenae.com

 

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Ask Dr. Renae: Teen protecting endangered family member is not alone

Dear Dr. Renae,

A member of my immediate family living in my home has a medical condition which makes them immune compromised. Out of love, respect and fear for their safety, I have limited my social interactions. My friends understood at first but have begun subtly pressuring me to go out. I feel very left out, and it really makes it so much harder since I am missing out on so much. I am also worried about infecting my family member, so I have not even been attending school in person. I feel isolated and may be becoming depressed. I just want my friends to understand.

Alone at 17

Dear Alone at 17,

Your concern for your family is very honorable. You’ve made the right decision by staying home to keep your family safe. I would suggest talking to your friends and explaining to them how you feel and why you don’t want to go out. I would hope that your friends are mature enough to realize that you are making the right choice in staying home. After that I would suggest just talking to them over the phone or having zoom nights together. There’s a lot of online games that you and your friends can play together, or you can just relax and talk to each other. Remember that you can always have fun even if you’re not physically together. I wish you the best of luck.

High School Senior

 

Dear Alone at 17,

You are not alone!! There are so many people who are going through the exact same thing as you. I think that you are being very responsible and caring, and I’m sure your friends will see that! I suggest finding a group of people to have nightly zoom calls with and plan fun things to do together on the phone. Another example is to ask your friends to have a socially distant lunch!! I for one have been extremely cautious during COVID like you and one thing I have done to see my friends is having a socially distant lunch or hangout! You pick an outdoors area and go separately with your own blanket and sit apart in a huge circle… lots of feet apart! During these trying times, it is definitely important to find people that can support you on your off days. I hope you are doing well.

A Caring Friend

Dear Alone at 17,

I have people around me who also pressure me to go out, so I completely understand where you are coming from. I found the best way to remedy the situation is with communication. It may help to communicate with your friends through a video chat or voice call  about your experience with the pandemic and how you feel left out. It would also be helpful to come up with some stay-at-home events your friends can do together. I suggest game nights, powerpoint nights, or just chatting on the phone. I hope you don’t feel so alone in the future.

Your Fellow Teen

Dear Alone at 17,

It is inconceivable to be robbed of your much anticipated social year and normal for you to feel a loss. Your love and respect for your family is admirable especially for a teen. You sound like you are comfortable with your decision, an important predictor for your ability to make future difficult decisions. Friends who acknowledge and respect your choice will likely stand out head and shoulders above those friends who do not understand. Focusing your attention on these true friends will likely bring you more comfort than focusing attention on those who regrettably surprised you with their lack of support. True friends will find creative ways to remain connected to you, especially now when you need your friends more than ever. In addition, when you are able to finally socialize in person, it will be helpful to know who your true friends are so you can count on them in the future.

Dr. Renae

 

TEENS: Curious as to what other teens would say? If you have a question or problem you would like to present to other teens, please email: askdrrenae@att.net and include your age, grade, and gender you identify with. All questions are published anonymously and your identity and contact information will be kept confidential.

PARENTS OF TEENS: Would you like to anonymously and confidentially ask the panel of teen Peer Counseling Writers to comment on a parenting issue you are struggling with? If you are ready for a variety of honest opinions from real teens, please address your questions to askdrrenae@att.net.

Dr. Renae Lapin, a licensed marriage and family therapist with 40 years experience, currently maintains a private practice in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information about Dr. Renae and her practice, visit her website: https://askdrrenae.com

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CORAL SPRINGS COMMISSION

We remain optimistic that with the mass distribution of the COVID 19 vaccines, the end of this unprecedented pandemic is in sight.City  staff continue to work with the Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Emergency Management to ensure COVID-19 testing remains readily available for residents, which is crucial to preventing the spread of the virus. Perhaps most importantly, providing access to COVID-19 vaccination sites remains one of  greatest priorities. Sign up for our text message option to receive real-time information about vaccination sites by texting the keyword CORALSPRINGS (one word) to 888-777.

February is Black History Month, and we are proud to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans in our city. We look forward to highlighting local black leaders in our city nominated by our community. For more details visit www.coralsprings.org/bhm.

This month and every day since February 14, 2018, we continue to remember and honor the 17 students and staff who died at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. We also remember all of those who  were injured and forever touched by the violence experienced that day.

Three years does not ease the heartache resulting from such loss  we will never forget and continue to provide meaningful ways to commemorate and honor the memories of: Alyssa Alhadeff, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Christopher Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup, and Peter Wang.

For residents and community members who continue to struggle with mental health, especially in the wake of such loss, there are many resources available. Please call 2-1-1 for suicide intervention, those at risk can also text “FL” to 741-741 to immediately speak with a counselor. For additional information – we offer resources on our website at coralsprings.org/mentalhealth.

Since that tragic day, our city remains committed to ensuring the safety of our students and faculty. Our Police Department has demonstrated their commitment to ensuring school safety by implementing new technology connected directly into our Real Time Crime Center (RTCC). Using advanced software, security systems are integrated directly into the RTCC, improving response times and saving critical seconds during emergency situations – when time matters the most.

On February 19, residents will be able to celebrate all the reasons we love to call Coral Springs home at our Virtual State of the City.

For more details about this event, please visit https://www.coralsprings.org/living/events

We encourage you to remain vigilant to prevent the spread of COVID-19, continue to wear a facial covering, remain socially distanced, and follow good personal hygiene.

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FAU scholarships open for first-generation students

For Lake Worth resident and FAU junior, Jaireen Ruiz, 20, college at one time felt like a distant dream rather than an attainable goal.

A native of Puerto Rico, and a first-generation college student, Ruiz applied to FAU “without hesitation” and received the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program designed for first-generation students.

“I applied for this scholarship because I did not want to be defined by missed opportunities,” says Ruiz, who is majoring in elementary education. “I am proud of taking the initiative and being courageous in my pursuit of higher education and success.”

The Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program offers academically talented, first-generation, low-income high school seniors the opportunity to attend and graduate from FAU, debt-free.

Selected students receive four-year financial aid packages for tuition, on- campus housing, books, a meal plan, and additional resources needed to complete their college degree.

Each scholar follows “The Path,” a 17-step program which includes wraparound services supporting successful collegiate careers and post graduate lives, including career planning, mentoring, financial literacy resume writing, and life planning skills.

The program was developed by Boca Raton philanthropists Aubrey and Sally Strul in conjunction with FAU President John Kelly and first lady Carolyn Kelly.

“FAU prides itself on making higher education accessible to underserved and underrepresented communities,” says Kelly. “The Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars program is helping to eliminate inequity and provide students with the tools to turn their dreams into reality — and ensure that everyone succeeds.”

Since 2017, the program has graduated two scholars and grown to
currently include nearly 50 scholars.

As a former first-generation student, Aubrey Strul, a 72-yr. old industrialist, now living in Boca Raton, felt compelled to lessen the financial burden of school debt for students by providing an initial investment of $1 million to launch the program.

The son of immigrants from Lithuania whose parents met and married in South Africa, Strul was born in Johannesburg and was the first in his family to attend college where he studied accounting, finance, and mathematics.

He came to the United States in 1977 and says, “I was a quick learner and studied a lot,” but admits he valued his social life as well and says it made him a more well-rounded student.

“I am a firm believer that developing social skills is an important aspect of an education,” Struhl says, and it was this philosophy he carried over to running his businesses.

“My most valuable asset was our people,” he says. “I fostered an incredible, inclusive work culture. My philosophy was ‘always inclusion, never exclusion.’ If you build a team that cares, your organization will be successful. People are the most important asset of any company.”

Strul was motivated to create the scholarship program to level the playing the field for first-generation students and to help them address potential barriers, including financial barriers, to their academic success.

“To flourish as a country, we must provide equal and fair access to all students in the U.S.,” he says. “I understand the uphill battle these students face to earn their education.”

“The first step was to ensure our students could graduate debt-free,” Strul says. “The mountain of debt many students must incur to attend college unfairly impacts their success for many years.”

In addition, the scholarship package includes on-campus housing for all four years, as a way of offering students the full college experience, which Strul believes is instrumental to students’ social development.

Strul has created a five-point plan for success for his scholarship recipients:

Always do the right thing, no matter how difficult; character is everything; always try and help others; set realistic goals, then focus and achieve them; and NEVER give up.

For Ruiz, once she graduates in 2022, she hopes to make a difference in the lives of her future elementary school students, as her mentors have made a difference in her life.

What would she tell other first-generation students?

“It’s simple,” she says: “Don’t allow your setbacks and circumstances to define you. See yourself for the unbridled potential you possess. It can be intimidating, but surround yourself with people who support you in your path – you do not have to navigate this experience alone.”

“Enjoy the journey of attending college: it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she adds.

The application process for the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Class of 2025 is now open.

For questions regarding the application, contact Keven Allen, Scholarship Director, at kallenjr@fau.edu. To learn more about the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program, visit kellystrulscholars.fau.edu.

For best consideration, applications should be submitted by Monday, February 1 but will be accepted through Monday, March 1.

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Rewind: Somerset Academy Christmas parade

One of the parents at Somerset Parkland Academy, Jennifer Knight, approached the school the week before Thanksgiving with an idea to bring the on-campus kids together with the virtual students at one fun holiday event to give the kids a sense of normalcy during this crazy 2020 year.

With the support of Principal Geyler Castro and Vice- Principal Meg Campbell, Jennifer began raising money through sponsorships and in-kind donations to bring the Winter Caravan to life. She recruited her husband, Patrick, to deal with all the logistics and set-up work and the project began to grow in size and scope as they had to plan how to entertain nearly 200 cars coming through a caravan before they even reached the final stations ofPolar Express, Hanukkah, Frozen, Grinch, Candyland, Santa’s Workshop, and the Photo with Santa.

On December 17, 2020, each attendee made their way around the school parking lot, while enjoying costumed characters and stilt walkers parading around the caravan. DJ Cruz provided a fun Christmas light show with games.

Somerset Parkland wanted to end the year with flair as this Winter Caravan is another creative idea to allow the virtual students to experience the same holiday event as the in-person students.

At the end of the day, it was all for the kids and the joy on their faces made it all worth it.

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Somerset Parkland Academy plans a Christmas “Winter Caravan to North Pole” celebration for their students

On December 17, 2020, the Somerset Parkland Academy will host a fun and creative holiday celebration in its latest innovative solution to bring brick and mortar kids together with virtual students. From 4:30pm–8:30 pm, the school will host a drive-thru Winter Caravan to the North Pole–Covid Style.

Students and their families can attend the event from the comfort and safety of their vehicles. Each car will make their way around the school parking lot, while enjoying costumed characters and stilt-walkers parading around the caravan, a Christmas light show with celebrity DJ Cruz, games that can be played from afar, throwing pies at teacher’s faces, and food truck galore.

Somerset Parkland Academy is a first-year charter school that opened its doors during the craziest times in 2020. Right away the school was forced to start with all virtual classes from  K-6th grade. Within 2 months, the school transitioned to a hybrid model with both brick and mortar students and remote-learning virtual students.

Somerset Parkland wanted to end the year with a flair as this Winter Caravan is another creative idea to allow the virtual students to experience the same holiday event as the in-person students.

Project Coordinator:  Jennifer Knight

(305)-469-8854 or jenniferharrisknight@gmail.com

Principal: Geyler Castro

(954)-718-3391 or gcastro@somersetparklandacademy.com

 

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DECA perseveres at MSD despite COVID

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s DECA program is the fourth largest chapter in the world. With CDC safety guidelines and virtual learning set in stone for the remainder of this year, DECA has not allowed the circumstances to limit its outreach to students.

Originally, DECA stood for “Distributive Education Clubs of America,” but it is now known only as DECA, a not-for-profit student organization. Since the club is co-curricular, it only includes students enrolled in the Academy of Finance and/or the Hospitality & Tourism programs offered at MSD.

“In the spring when I was appointed to be the president of DECA, I thought I would be sitting back in the classroom,” co-President Lexie Sealy said. “I feel like I am missing out on engaging with our members. I was really looking forward to meeting the freshmen and new members face to face.” MSD’s DECA is around 700 members strong and as a result, it has become a challenge to connect the members when meetings and socials are done through a computer screen with no real interaction.  With students learning through computers and staring at screens for hours at a time, it has become hard to engage and involve members.

“It is definitely a challenge for our chapter to connect with one another on virtual platforms, especially with all the technical difficulties that come with virtual events,” co-VP of School Activities Raegan DiRenzo said. “Despite this, I feel we’ve made the best of this situation and have been able to participate in engaging officer bonding events and socials.”

As an incentive for more participation, the club introduced a Girls Who Start chapter for students interested in hearing from female entrepreneurs, along with DECA in the Middle, a program where students from Westglades Middle School could learn about business-related concepts.

“Online learning has really made it hard for us to connect with the middle school kids,” VP of Middle School Relations Ziya Kassam said. “Usually we would be able to talk to the members one on one and be there in person whenever they needed, but this year it’s hard for us to communicate efficiently.”

Typically, DECA students compete at state competition and at the International Career Development Conference, where thousands of DECA students come together to compete and develop knowledge and skills for college and careers. Since competitions will no longer be conducted the same way as years prior, resources such as “Manual Monday” and “Testing Tuesday” are available to students who would like to focus more on preparation.

“It’s important to be prepared for competition,” sophomore LJ Russinoff said.

“Our chapter offers [resources] to ensure that our members are as prepare as possible for their events.”

As a result of eLearning, the DECA officer team and advisors have found ways to collaborate and find solutions for more effective networking, learning, and bonding. Just like other clubs and extracurriculars, establishing connections has become a struggle. The DECA program at MSD has learned to combat this issue with strong teamwork and innovative alternatives.

PERSPECTIVES:
Sharon Cutler – Academy of Finance teacher and DECA advisor

“From a teacher perspective, I had to rethink my lessons and how I’m going to teach with the understanding that students are looking at a computer screen. I am used to having project based learning so having my students still work in projects and with other people is very important to me. I try to look at what I can do instead of what I can’t.”

Lexie Sealy – DECA Co-President 

“The biggest challenge is keeping members engaged through a computer screen. We have had to take all the events we do every year and figure out a way to make them virtual and engaging for members. COVID-19 has made this position much more difficult than anticipated, but it is so rewarding to hear positive feedback from the student body.”

 Jacob Foster – DECA senior who has gone to state/ICDC competition

“I have competed in state and district competitions every year, and I attended ICDC my sophomore year. Virtual competition is not ideal, but it is understandable since DECA wants to keep everyone safe. My goal this year is to work hard to win at ICDC since this will be my last chance. We have been looking forward to this competition in California since our freshman year, and everyone is hopeful that things will be better in May or April so that we will be able to travel and compete.”

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American Heritage school ranked number one for a reason

Recent American Heritage School graduate Jordan Bouchner proudly joins 77 other seniors named National Merit Scholars this past February during their senior year.

American Heritage School is a private, college preparatory school for ages Pre-K through 12. This year marks the 11th consecutive year the school has had the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists. One in four students in the Class of 2021 scored in the top one percent of students in the nation.

Both American Heritage’s Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton locations rank as the number one private school in the United States. Their combined students from both campuses comprise 10 percent of all National Merit Scholars in the 2,227public and private schools in Florida.

“The recognition was nice, and the scholarship was especially comforting due to the uncertainty that we had with how the pandemic would affect our ability to pay for college,” Bouchner said.

Jordan Bouchner

According to Bouchner, the preparation for the PSAT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) began during his sophomore year. If a student scores a certain percentage, American Heritage puts the student in a class to prepare for the exam.

These students practiced and reviewed throughout the summer to prepare to take the exam at the beginning of their junior year. Bouchner took the exam in October of 2018. Once scores were received, Bouchner received the award for semifinalist. He took the exam and applied for the scholarship in his senior year.

The top scorers in Florida on the PSAT exam advance from semifinalists to finalist status in the spring and are eligible to receive college scholarships.

Bouchner applied to be a finalist and was awarded a scholarship for college later that year.

“I knew going in it would be long and hard, but it worked. American Heritage does a good job encouraging students to go after these scholarships and try harder on the PSAT. They definitely have a plan for a lot of their scholarship kids to mold them into successful graduates.”

In addition to the millions of dollars in possible scholarships, these bright students now have new college opportunities and confidence in their futures.

According to the National Merit Scholarship organization, colleges such as Harvard, Stanford, University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt enroll the most talented National Merit Scholars.

President of American Heritage Schools Dr. Douglas Laurie, said, “Not only are they nationally recognized as the top one percent academically, but they are also extremely well- rounded, excelling both in and out of the classroom in fine arts, sports, and community service.”

Bouchner as well as the other 21 students, proudly accepted their scholarships and are now excelling and accomplishing greater paths at colleges around the nation.

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‘The limit does not exist’

I attended K-12 in Coral Springs in the 80s and 90s. At Ramblewood Middle School, my assigned special subject was computers. We played a lot of Oregon Trail and Odell Lake and used primitive coding to create King Kong climbing up computer screens (yes, we actually stacked computer screens on top of each other).

My computers special was 100 percent boys. 100 percent boys! I remember asking my guidance counselor if I could change my special to peer counseling. For those who went to Ramblewood Middle School, the peer counselors put on a yearly show, “Just say no to drugs” to the song, Total Eclipse of the Heart – the pep rally was terrible and awesome at the same time. I was told I could not be a peer counselor because there were already too many girls signed up and they “needed me” in computers. This was an accepted trend growing up; boys were “needed” in technology and science while girls were “needed” in the soft sciences and arts.

Growing up, our teachers constantly preached, “You can be whatever you want when you grow up.” What they really meant to say was, “You can be whatever you want when you grow up … as long as it’s gender
appropriate.”

Fast forward to 2020.

Kristen Meis

Kristin Meis is the Engineering and Robotics Specialist at Park Trails Elementary. Kristin also serves as the school’s liaison for the Math and Science departments for the district. This year, Kristin was nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science, after being awarded Teacher of the Year at Park Trails Elementary for the 2019-2020 school year. The Presidential Award is the highest recognition a teacher can receive in the United States.

The idea of a woman receiving the Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science, for Engineering and Robotics, nonetheless, may have seemed crazy to some 30 years ago. Science teachers were predominantly men. English teachers were predominantly women.

Now, because of trailblazers like Kristin, all children, both boys and girls, are encouraged to love STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) at a young age. Kristin resides in Parkland with her husband Rob and two children, Macy, 14 and RJ, 12. Kristin became a teacher in 1999 after graduating with her Master’s in Education from the University of Florida. Kristin accepted the Engineering and Robotics position at Park Trails last year after having been a classroom teacher there since 2013. She was excited about students solving problems (Kristin calls them “design challenges”) with not only their minds but with their hands.

She created her Engineering and Robotics lab with students in mind – shelves line one wall filled with materials students use throughout the year. Kristin encourages her students to use engineering and design processes — ask, imagine, plan, create, improve, and communicate — to solve problems. The materials wall serves to expand her students’ minds while providing them with limitless opportunities to find solutions. Students learn not by memorizing formulas, but by working through challenges in teams.

For example, during virtual learning, the intermediate grades created a “Helping Hand” for their design challenge using just straws, strings, and tape. This exercise led to an in-depth discussion between her students about different body systems, particularly the skeletal system and the 206 bones in their body. Her students learned about the 27 bones in each hand, 26 bones in each foot, and more.

In a world where children are on their devices for hours on end, Kristin challenges them to think creatively and “outside the box.” Kristin loves creating novel ways to teach her students while not relying on traditional textbooks. Like Mr. Miyagi teaching Daniel LaRusso (The Karate Kid, 1984), Kristin’s students may not even realize that she is arming them with life skills that will help them throughout their entire lives and in the workforce.

Kristin is an inspiration to all women who were ever told that STEM is a “boys world.” Girls can be whatever they want when they grow up. To use a science term, “They are bound by nothing.” Better yet, to use a quote from Cady Heron in Mean Girls, “The limit does not exist!”

Parkland is lucky to have not only a Presidential Award-Nominated Mathematics and Science teacher, but an amazing person who loves her students and her career. Thank you, Kristin, for encouraging a lifelong love of robotics and engineering to boys and girls. Let us all root for Kristin to be recognized in Washington in 2021 as one of the best Mathematics and Science teachers in the country!

Philip Snyder is a partner in the Delray Beach law firm Lyons Snyder Collins.

 

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Teachers’ COVID-19 Survival Guide

The first day of school is always such a special day! A day filled with excitement, anticipation, and joy. A brand new beginning
is upon us. A day that is filled with hope! Hope for our youth, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for our future. The building is always abuzz with the hustle and bustle of teachers reorganizing their classrooms, decorating bulletin boards, color-coordinating folders. Teachers are reviewing lesson plans, sharing new ideas, discussing their summer vacations. Smiles are given by your favorite custodian, warm hugs from the office staff, and you notice the familiar smells wafting from the cafeteria. There is the prospect of eager new students dressed in their new clothes, shoes, and backpacks.

Unfortunately, it’s September 2020 and none of those things are possible right now. With all the changes this year, your excitement may be replaced with anxiety and dread. Some questions you may ask yourself are: How am I going to do this? How can I possibly prepare? How will I actively engage my students? What if I can’t work the technology? One thing to remember is that we cannot control the external circumstances and challenges present this year. The good news is we can make personal changes that will help to decrease or eliminate our anxiety related to this school year.

Here is a Survival Guide which you can begin practicing right now!

What can I do right now:

  • Sleep 7-8 hours per night
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat healthily
  • Meditate
  • Engage in activities unrelated to work
  • Connect with others
  • Limit social media and all media
  • Practice self-compassion (kindness talk)

What can I do next week:

  • Set up a dedicated workspace. This helps form a work mode versus a disconnected mode.
  • Set up boundaries. Be sure to set up a designated time for office hours where the students, parents, and even administration can reach you. Respond during these hours only. Midnight texts, emails, and phone calls are unacceptable!
  • Set up reasonable expectations for yourself and your students. By setting up small, timely, realistic goals, you will feel more fulfilled. This will help to maintain your mental health.
  • Change your mindset. Think about what you have control over and make the decision to be positive. Wake up with gratitude every day.
  • Stop apologizing. Instead of starting a sentence with “I’m sorry, but,” be specific about what you need and what you are capable of doing. Do not apologize for setting boundaries or taking time for yourself.
  • Carve out time for your self-care. Self-care is not selfish.

What can I do when feeling anxious during the school year:

  • Reach out to others
  • Call others
  • Video chat, Face Time, Zoom
  • Suggest a zoom book club, yoga session, or cooking club
  • Connections are crucial. You’ll be glad you did it, I promise!

How can I help my students when they are anxious:

  • Praise students for facing their fears.
  • Model good coping behaviors.
  • Validate and be supportive of your students.
  • Be open and honest with your students while reminding them that there is much thought and planning put into keeping them safe.
  • Provide new and accurate information in a timely manner while allowing students to safely express their concerns.
  • Provide an emotionally safe space for all students.

What can I do with my students when we are both feeling anxious:

  • Deep breathing
  • Support the use of comfort objects
  • Teach and practice meditation techniques
  • Teach and practice grounding techniques by using all five senses.

Gratitude for teachers is sometimes left unspoken. Know that you are appreciated and we are grateful for you. This too shall pass and when it does, our teachers will be celebrated as the heroes of the pandemic of 2020.

 

By Stacie Boyar

Stacie Boyar is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice for the past five years at Grace Counseling in Coral Springs. She also has a master’s degree in education. Because of COVID-19, she has been providing services exclusively through www.telehealth.com.

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