Look for the Helpers

Happy Friday Everyone, Yesterday, Blogger wasn't letting me upload the pictures I needed to make my post complete, so I took some of my own advice and added: "for now."  The system wasn't working "for now."  So I set my post aside and tried again this morning.....and it worked.....sometimes we just need to give things time to sort themselves out.  Once they do, we can move ahead as planned.   So today, you get a "two-for."  As in a "two for the price of one!"  Two blog posts today.  Two ideas to ponder.  Two things to learn.  Two things to make your day a little brighter!   For Today's big idea:   Before this holiday weekend of remembrance commences, I wanted to take a moment to remind you about self-care as we all make the final push to the end of the school year.  Self-care is anything positive that you do to recharge your batteries.   I like this little self-care menu reminder... It's important to re...

Happy Thursday Everyone,  (It's actually Friday now, but Google wasn't letting me add my pictures yesterday, so I saved my post and tried again today!) For your consideration:   Here are a couple of words/simple phrases you can try when the chips are down... "Yet," and, "For now"  For example, I am not good at this...YET.   This small little word gives you the freedom to try again, to fail without giving up, and to evaluate what you've learned so that you can regroup with a new plan.   The Power of YET...it's amazing! "For now is a good reminder that nothing lasts forever, even the bad times.  We can outlast "for now." We can out last it knowing that things will change in the future and that there are brighter days ahead.     Give these words a try next time you need to encourage yourself, and see if they help put a grow mindset perspective in place.   Have a great day everyone! Mrs. Hempey

Happy Wednesday Everyone! Recently I was thinking about my time at Crossett Brook.  I am finishing up my 16th year here, and it struck me, when I was reflecting, that each year I continue to grow in my own personal journey - getting older (and hopefully a little wiser) but that sometimes it feels like you all are a bit frozen in time.  In reality, you aren't of course, 'cause you are all growing, learning, and changing each day too... but...maybe it's hard to explain... ...every June one group of students leaves, and come August, the cycle of 5th-8th grade starts all over again.  There are new names, and new faces in new roles, but the constants of how tweens and teens develop and grow haven't changed too much over the years, hence the feeling of time standing still around me while I continue to move forward.   I have to be careful...I have to remind myself often of how unique you all are, and of how each of you comes to me - to us - for this short time in your ...

Happy Tuesday Everyone, Have you ever thought about the ripple effect that you have?  You know what I mean, right?  You know...when you throw a stone in a body of calm water and the water ripples out from the center affecting a larger and larger area concentrically outwards?  Would you believe me if I told you that your (our) connection to others in the world has the same kind of ripple effect?   Well, it does.  We've kind of seen this effect as we've learned about COVID and how germs spread.  Spreading COVID was definitely NOT a positive ripple, but it a goog visual.  If you have one infected person, they might infect two others, who then infect two more others, and then those four infect two more others and now we effectively (and in this case negatively) have affected the lives of 15 others people.   Imagine having that same effect on 15 people, and scores more, in a positive way.  With the big and small ways we are in the world,...

Happy Monday Everyone, Do you all know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge?  He is the character who originated from an old Charles Dickens Novel.  At the beginning of the story, Scrooge only loved money and power.  By the end of the tale, Scrooge had learned that what really matters in life are the relationships you create.  He learned that by spreading kindness and by caring for others you make yourself truly rich.    This story is often told at Christmas which is when Scrooge was visited by the ghosts of Christmas past and one from the future.   However, the general story is told over and over in many different formats and versions (watch just about any Hallmark movie where the "self-centered" main character learns that there is more to life than money, power, or being constantly overworked and that a life lived without compassion for others is not a life well-lived).   I know, I know you're wondering why I am bringing up a Christmas tale n...

Happy Friday Everyone!   I don't have lots of time today, but I felt that this information was important for you all to hear as you start to move into new roles over the summer and next year.   Everyone struggles at times, but it is from the struggle that we learn and grow, so don't be too hard on yourself in moments of struggle.  In those moments, simply ask yourself, "what am I learning?"  "How can I grow?"  Then, do what you can to move through it.   Have a great weekend everyone! Mrs. Hempey   

 Happy Thursday Everyone! Have you ever seen a shooting star?  They are rare and hard to observe because your eyes have to be in the right place at the right time on a clear starry night.  But when you catch one, it's well worth it.  It's a beautiful little reminder of our small existence in this universe and how lucky we are to be were when are in this time and space.   Nathan W. Pyle, artist and creator of Strange Planet and other fun cartoons posted this little gem the other day.   Not only did this make me laugh - something we all need once in a while, but this little comic reminded me that beauty can exist in, "Oh shoot," moments and that in  "Oh shoot" moments we can find beauty.   Here's to more, "Whoot, whoot," than "Shoot, shoot," in your day today!

Good Morning Folks!   Happy Tuesday!  I have been on a trend of not getting my blog posts out until late recently, did I mention that the end of the year is busy???  😂😜  (Maybe just a time or two right?)  It has meant some shorter posts but hopefully, they are no less important.  My aim is to still deliver the messages you need to hear each day.   This morning I wanted to share a Lunarbaboon Comic that I found this past week. You might remember that along with Strange Planet, Lunarbaboon is a favorite of mine.  The author makes art that speaks to our shared humanity and illustrates pretty simple and important themes of life like kindness, acceptance of others and self, and awareness of our impact on others and the world.  Have a look at this one... So how about you?  Do you get the point?    Are you leading your best life?   Are you spending your time doing things that make you happy instead of stress...

 Happy Monday Everyone! Have a look at this... Acceptance, encouragement, understanding, kindness, compassion, empathy...all the things I preach about day after day in this blog wrapped up in this one video.  No one had to do any of this.  But. They. Did.   When you have an interaction with someone who experiences the world in a different way from you, instead of laughing, or pointing fingers, or making snide comments, give compassion.  Act with humanity.  Treat those that need it with the same dignity you would give to your friends and family.   You will never regret being kind, and those around you will never forget your courage.   Be Well, Cougars! Mrs. Hempey 

Happy Thursday Everyone!  Greatness is in all of us.  Have a watch and get inspired to tap into the greatness within.  This ad campaign recognizes athletes, but you could easily substitute, artists, musicians, academics, advocates, leaders, teachers, and more.   Where is your greatness?  What are your passions?  Where can you lead?  Where can you share knowledge or teach others?  What skills do you want to develop.  You are great...I believe in you!   Go forth, be great.   Mrs. Hempey

Happy Wednesday Folks, Yes, you're not mistaken, I've missed two days in a row of posting to my blog, and it's 3:45pm on Wednesday and I am just now getting to write down some thoughts.   I guess that things are getting "back to normal" because the days are humming, and I am finding little time in my day available to put down my written words of school counselor wisdom.  This is both good - it means I am seeing you all more in-person, and bad because I think that the info being shared is important and can reach a wide audience.  So I am going to continue to do my best until the end of the year to post as regularly as possible.   Things starting to get back to normal gives me pause.  I am happy to be vaccinated and slowly reconnecting with my family.  I am happy that my kids are both playing a sport this spring and that we are at the local park four days a week.  I am happy that I am working with students in an afterschool activity two days a ...

 A time to rest and recharge... Have a fantastic weekend everyone!  See you back her Monday rested and recharged.   Be Well, Mrs. Hempey

Well, it's Thursday everyone, and you've all already gone home for the day.  I should be on my way too, but I just wanted to talk quickly about when things, "fall off the plate."    We all have a lot going on, and if you are like me, you have more going on than you can possibly get done in a day.  So how do we manage all of the balls in the air, and still sit down a the end of the day and feel good about the ones we dropped?   We prioritize - What is most important?  What can't wait?  Have I put value into human connection over tasks and paperwork.  What needs to happen today, and what, realistically can happen tomorrow?   This is why I make a list each morning.  Oftentimes, my lists overlap from day to day, and sometimes even week to week.  Some projects are out on the horizon and all I need to do about them today is start visualizing them.  Some things - like a crying student, or a crowded lunch duty, need my atten...

Happy Wednesday Everyone, So the days are proving to be busier with everyone in the building on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and I never got to post a blog yesterday, but I am getting back on the horse today, with a documentary recommendation.   This past weekend, I watched the Netflix documentary called, Becoming Elmo .  Here is the Trailer.   The last line of the trailer is, "focus on what makes you happy."  That is why I would encourage you to watch Becoming Elmo  so you can think about what makes you happy!  Kevin Clash had a passion, and he never let anyone - peers, family members, or teachers, deter him from that passion.  He stayed true to his vision and he went after that vision with dogged determination.   In addition to that, he had a great, "fake it till you make it," kind of mentality.  He often felt afraid or too shy to take important steps in reaching his goals.  However, even when experiencing thos...

Happy Monday Everyone, Did you know that smiling is good for your mental health?  No really, it's true!  When you smile, your brain releases chemicals or tiny molecules called neuropeptides that help us fight off stress.  After that, chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins float around in your brain and act like little pain relievers or anti-depressants.   You should try it...smiling I mean...when you are feeling down.  Find a song you love, or a show you like, or tell silly jokes to a friend, and see how you feel after that little smile creeps over your face.   Because smiling is so important, lots of songs have been made about it.  Check out what I found...  or the original version... or this one by Nat King Cole Or this Michael Buble smile song... Uncle Kracker... And even an 80's rock band, Bad English wrote about smiles... I hope some of these songs will make you smile today.  If you are feeling down, try smiling to ...