Look for the Helpers

Good Morning Everyone! It feels like it's been a long week for lots of folks...we're certainly in the thick of it, and people are really working hard to stay focused and manage all the stressors that exist.   Recently, I was discussing the idea of perseveration with some folks.  Perseveration is when we focus on things that worry us.  Wikipedia describes it as,   "t hinking  about negative events in the past or in the future (e.g. worry, rumination and brooding, but also mind wandering about negative topics)."  It's really easy to get stuck in perseveration land and important to practice the skill of shifting your focus to things that are going well or that make you happy.  I challenge you today, on this feel-good Friday, to make a list...yes I want you to actually write it out...of anything that went well this week or you felt good about.  It doesn't have to be big or even all that important, but shifting our focus to the good stuff can...

Welcome to a very delayed Thursday Blog Post... If you are starting to swim figure 8's, let someone in.  Tell someone how you are feeling - reach out.  Don't keep trying to tread water on your own!   I love you all today, and want to remind you that you are strong, smart, capable, and amazing!   Don't let your broken-ness get you down because where you are broken today, you will be brilliant tomorrow!   Peace and Love this evening! Mrs Hempey   

Happy Wednesday Everyone, I figured that a Wednesday might be the right day to share this song, which is one of my all-time Jack Johnson favorites.  I've shared some of Jack's music before, and I always think that it speaks right to the heart.  So have a listen.  In middle school, friends are so important, and it's important to celebrate these bonds!  We know it's always better when we're together!   I know it's really hard, at times, when you can't connect with your friends in all the ways you want to...you can't hug them, you can't sit next to them in the hallways, you can't eat lunch together, play sports with them after school, or sing together with them in Chorus.  You can't even see them smile at you during the day.   But keep in mind... So if you find yourself more distant from your best friends than you'd wish, try sharing your kindness and friendship with the peers that you do have around you.  True friendships won't disappea...

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Recently I have come across some thoughts about emotional boundaries, which struck me as personally important.   Conversations with others then reminded me that boundary setting was an important tool to teach to students.  Learning to balance support and kindness for others with our own emotional needs is something that is not always easy to do.  Having strong emotional boundaries is an important component of social-emotional wellbeing.   So let's talk a little bit about what emotional boundaries are... Emotional boundaries are saying no when you don't have time to take on one more thing.  Emotional boundaries are recognizing that you are responsible for you and "they" are responsible for them.   Emotional boundaries are striking the balance between supporting friends, family, and co-workers without personally taking on all of their emotional baggage.   Emotional boundaries are not burning yourself out in ord...

Happy Monday Everyone! I saw this little video clip last week and it made me think about the healthy risk conversation that I have with kids sometimes.  Watch the video first.     I liked this as a reminder that life is full of all kinds of healthy risks.  Sometimes when we talk about "risky" behavior, we're talking about the things you shouldn't do...use substances, fail to wear your seatbelt or bike helmet or hide important things from your caregivers and teachers.  But there are many healthy risks out there, and those are the ones I am focusing on today.   Here are some examples:   You like singing, but have a little stage freight...enter the happening anyway! You want to go to summer camp, but you are a little afraid of being away from home...enroll anyway! You think you know the answer in math class, but you might be wrong...raise your hand anyway!  You want to learn to snowboard, but you've never tried it before...take a lesso...

Happy Friday Everyone!   There is lots of snow out there, and many ways to enjoy it here in Central VT.  I hope you take some time to play in the snow and get fresh air this weekend!   In honor of all the epic skiing that's out there, check out then 11-year-old Kai Jones and his short ski flick from Teton Gravity Research in 2018!   Whatever you do this weekend, I hope you do it to your fullest!  Fly Cougars! Be Well, Mrs. Hempey PS...this one is more recent and needs seeing too!

Happy Thursday Everyone!   Today was a busy day, and though I started my blog, I didn't get it finished before 2:30 dismissal.  So here it is, 4:00 and I am sitting at my dining room table at home finishing today's post.  I wanted to make sure that today's installment got finished because there was so much that happened yesterday that I needed to process it.  I needed to process it for myself and I needed to bring at least some of it back to you too.  If you watched the inauguration yesterday and experienced a moment that you felt was particularly poignant or important, I'd love to hear about what stood out for you.  For me, there were three particularly important moments.   The first moment was the beautiful and inspiring poem written and read by Amanda Gorman, Poet Laureate.  You simply must watch it if you haven't already done so.  In fact, even if you heard it the first time, you should listen to it again because the message is ...