Home hair cuts with Nina - take 2! - Friday, April 24, 2020
Hello everyone!
Nina's minor trims have morphed into major clipper cuts! For Nina's next Blog I will post a photo of her newly shaved hair cut done by yours truly! At least she will be ready for summer 😁
The week before last I posted a picture of Nina somewhere in Bedford. If anyone guessed the Educational Farm at Joppa Hill, you are correct! Nina loves to see that animals at the farm and walk through the trails. If you haven't been to the farm, you should check it out!
https://www.theeducationalfarm.org/
Next week we have a short vacation (Thursday and Friday). I hope you all use that time to recharge, and refresh. Take care of yourselves and each other...
~Ms. McGinty and Nina
Friday, April 24, 2020
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
An Attitude of Gratitude - Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Hi McKelvie Students!
I am going to ask you to think back reaaaalllly far to a Connections lesson we did in November.
Do you remember when we created Gratitude Journals together? Do you remember why we made those?
Having gratitude means being thankful or appreciative of the things in your life. Did you know that recognizing what you are grateful for changes your brain? When you spend time each day thinking about what you are grateful for, your brain will start to focus more on the positive things that bring you happiness, rather than the negative things. Practicing gratitude helps you to be more content with what you have and it makes you happier!
During stressful times, it can be easy to focus on the negative things. I want to challenge you to shift your thinking and look for the positive things that you are grateful for, however big or small.
Maybe you are grateful that you got some extra time to sleep in this morning.
Or maybe your Mom made you a yummy pancake breakfast and you got to enjoy it with your family.
Perhaps you were able to finish your remote learning early and get outside.
Or maybe you got to spend time FaceTiming with a friend today.
I am challenging YOU to write down three things you are grateful for every single day! Notice how doing this impacts your mood.
I would love to hear what you are grateful for today! Send me an email and share your list!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo
I am going to ask you to think back reaaaalllly far to a Connections lesson we did in November.
Do you remember when we created Gratitude Journals together? Do you remember why we made those?
Having gratitude means being thankful or appreciative of the things in your life. Did you know that recognizing what you are grateful for changes your brain? When you spend time each day thinking about what you are grateful for, your brain will start to focus more on the positive things that bring you happiness, rather than the negative things. Practicing gratitude helps you to be more content with what you have and it makes you happier!
During stressful times, it can be easy to focus on the negative things. I want to challenge you to shift your thinking and look for the positive things that you are grateful for, however big or small.
Maybe you are grateful that you got some extra time to sleep in this morning.
Or maybe your Mom made you a yummy pancake breakfast and you got to enjoy it with your family.
Perhaps you were able to finish your remote learning early and get outside.
Or maybe you got to spend time FaceTiming with a friend today.
I am challenging YOU to write down three things you are grateful for every single day! Notice how doing this impacts your mood.
I would love to hear what you are grateful for today! Send me an email and share your list!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo
Monday, April 20, 2020
Mindful Monday - Monday, April 20, 2020
Hi McKelvie Community,
It's Monday, which means it is time to practice being mindful. Today, we encourage you to pay attention to how your body feels in this moment. We are going to practice going from being "mindless" to "mindful." If your mind wanders, or you have a hard time with this activity, that is okay! Just like math or basketball, mindfulness takes practice. We learn and grow by practicing!
Have a mindful Monday!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo
It's Monday, which means it is time to practice being mindful. Today, we encourage you to pay attention to how your body feels in this moment. We are going to practice going from being "mindless" to "mindful." If your mind wanders, or you have a hard time with this activity, that is okay! Just like math or basketball, mindfulness takes practice. We learn and grow by practicing!
Have a mindful Monday!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo
Friday, April 17, 2020
Home Hair Cuts...with Nina! - Friday, April 17, 2020
Home Hair Cuts...with Nina! - Friday, April 17, 2020
Hi everyone!
There have been a lot of unexpected effects from non-essential businesses being forced to close and all of us having to stay home. One that I've realized is hair cuts! How many of you have had someone at home cut your hair? Anyone just letting their hair grow out? Maybe you've even tried to trim someone's hair...
Many of you probably remember seeing Nina right after she's been to the groomer. She is clean and white, trimmed, and super soft! Now however, her hair is really growing out and I noticed this week that she couldn't see very well with her hair over her eyes. So I did what many people are doing...I trimmed her bangs!
While they may not be considered "essential" we rely on so many skilled individuals in our community. I know I will have a greater appreciation and gratitude for Nina's groomer when things go back to normal. Are there any stores or services that you really miss?
Take care.
~Ms. McGinty (and Nina)
Hi everyone!
There have been a lot of unexpected effects from non-essential businesses being forced to close and all of us having to stay home. One that I've realized is hair cuts! How many of you have had someone at home cut your hair? Anyone just letting their hair grow out? Maybe you've even tried to trim someone's hair...
Many of you probably remember seeing Nina right after she's been to the groomer. She is clean and white, trimmed, and super soft! Now however, her hair is really growing out and I noticed this week that she couldn't see very well with her hair over her eyes. So I did what many people are doing...I trimmed her bangs!
While they may not be considered "essential" we rely on so many skilled individuals in our community. I know I will have a greater appreciation and gratitude for Nina's groomer when things go back to normal. Are there any stores or services that you really miss?
Take care.
~Ms. McGinty (and Nina)
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt - Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Dear Students,
It's time to get outside and be curious! Getting fresh air is SO important. It's not good for your mental health to stay cooped up inside all day. So, get outside and complete our Outdoor Scavenger Hunt!
We challenge you to find as many items on this list as you can. Feel free to virtually challenge your friends (of course, you are at your house and they are at their house) to see who can find the most items.
Click HERE to grab the scavenger hunt and get outside! Happy Hunting!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo and Ms. McGinty
It's time to get outside and be curious! Getting fresh air is SO important. It's not good for your mental health to stay cooped up inside all day. So, get outside and complete our Outdoor Scavenger Hunt!
We challenge you to find as many items on this list as you can. Feel free to virtually challenge your friends (of course, you are at your house and they are at their house) to see who can find the most items.
Click HERE to grab the scavenger hunt and get outside! Happy Hunting!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo and Ms. McGinty
Monday, April 13, 2020
Mindful Monday - Monday, April 13, 2020
Hello everyone!
It's Monday, so that means it's mindfulness time!
Today we are going to practice a new mindfulness strategy, called visualization. When we are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it can help to hit the pause button, close our eyes, and visualize a place that makes you feel happy and calm.
What is that place for you? Sitting on the beach? Skiing down the mountain? Your bedroom? The library?
I challenge you to identify that one place that makes you feel the most joy. Check out the exercise below. We invite you to complete this exercise for yourself, so that when you are feeling overwhelmed, you have a place in your mind to go to.
It's Monday, so that means it's mindfulness time!
Today we are going to practice a new mindfulness strategy, called visualization. When we are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it can help to hit the pause button, close our eyes, and visualize a place that makes you feel happy and calm.
What is that place for you? Sitting on the beach? Skiing down the mountain? Your bedroom? The library?
I challenge you to identify that one place that makes you feel the most joy. Check out the exercise below. We invite you to complete this exercise for yourself, so that when you are feeling overwhelmed, you have a place in your mind to go to.
We hope you have a mindful, relaxed Monday!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo and Ms. McGinty
Friday, April 10, 2020
Greetings from Nina! - Friday, April 10, 2020
Greetings from Nina! - Friday, April 10, 2020
This week Nina made a new friend! See if you can guess where this picture was taken. Hint...it is somewhere in Bedford.
We also walked past a #chalkyourwalk design.
We hope you are all doing well and taking care of yourselves and your families. Check back next Friday for more Nina adventures!
~Ms. McGinty and Nina
This week Nina made a new friend! See if you can guess where this picture was taken. Hint...it is somewhere in Bedford.
We also walked past a #chalkyourwalk design.
We hope you are all doing well and taking care of yourselves and your families. Check back next Friday for more Nina adventures!
~Ms. McGinty and Nina
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Managing Technology and Social Media - Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Hi McKelvie Community,
When we are spending our days at home without other places to go, it can be easy to try to entertain ourselves with technology. Whether that technology is our TV, cell phone, video games, computer, or tablet, it is often our go-to to fill our time.
Using technology to fill our days can be a slippery slop for a few big reasons:
When we are spending our days at home without other places to go, it can be easy to try to entertain ourselves with technology. Whether that technology is our TV, cell phone, video games, computer, or tablet, it is often our go-to to fill our time.
Using technology to fill our days can be a slippery slop for a few big reasons:
- It can be easy to get caught up in all of the news that we see on TV or on social media. Especially at your age, you do not need to be exposing yourself to news stories constantly. Doing so is going to make you feel more nervous and scared.
- Too much exposure to technology can change the way that your brain works. It can also make you more irritable.
For these reasons and more, put the screens away!! Below are 25 different non-screen related activities you can try at home. Email your counselor and let us know if you tried one!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
2020 Covid19 Time Capsule - Tuesday, April 7, 2020
2020 Covid19 Time Capsule - Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Hi everyone,
In December of 1989, my family created a time capsule with an extensive list of questions for each of us that my father came up with. Ten years later, in 1999, together we opened the time capsule and read out loud all of our predictions, dreams, and favorites from ten year earlier. It was so hilarious and interesting to see how we had all changed over a decade.
Right now, you are all in a unique position to create a time capsule of your own to document how you are feeling during this period in history, and to take a snapshot in time to open later, when all of this is over, and to see how much you've grown!
Click HERE for a time capsule you can print and use with your family. Have fun with it! Then, put it in a safe place, with a reminder to open in April, 2030!
Hi everyone,
In December of 1989, my family created a time capsule with an extensive list of questions for each of us that my father came up with. Ten years later, in 1999, together we opened the time capsule and read out loud all of our predictions, dreams, and favorites from ten year earlier. It was so hilarious and interesting to see how we had all changed over a decade.
Right now, you are all in a unique position to create a time capsule of your own to document how you are feeling during this period in history, and to take a snapshot in time to open later, when all of this is over, and to see how much you've grown!
Click HERE for a time capsule you can print and use with your family. Have fun with it! Then, put it in a safe place, with a reminder to open in April, 2030!
Monday, April 6, 2020
Mindful Monday - Monday, April 6, 2020
Dear Mindful McK Students,
Welcome to Day 2 of Mindful Mondays!
Today's Mindfulness activity involves yoga. Yoga has so many benefits! Not only does it get our body moving and stretch our muscles, it also gives us an opportunity to sloooowwww down, focus on our breath, and be present in the moment.
This week, we challenge you to try out some of THESE yoga poses.
As you complete these poses, remember to really focus on your breath and how the pose feels. When you sense your mind starting to wander (perhaps to thoughts of math homework, writing assignments, or illness), take a deep breath and focus yourself back on the present moment.
The more we practice being mindful, the easier it will become.
Let's make it a great week!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo and Ms. McGinty
Welcome to Day 2 of Mindful Mondays!
Today's Mindfulness activity involves yoga. Yoga has so many benefits! Not only does it get our body moving and stretch our muscles, it also gives us an opportunity to sloooowwww down, focus on our breath, and be present in the moment.
This week, we challenge you to try out some of THESE yoga poses.
As you complete these poses, remember to really focus on your breath and how the pose feels. When you sense your mind starting to wander (perhaps to thoughts of math homework, writing assignments, or illness), take a deep breath and focus yourself back on the present moment.
The more we practice being mindful, the easier it will become.
Let's make it a great week!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo and Ms. McGinty
Friday, April 3, 2020
Greetings from Nina! - Friday, April 3, 2020
Greetings from Nina! - Friday, April 3, 2020
Nina has been going on a lot of walks this week! We are walking around Bedford looking for #chalkyourwalk messages. If we walk by your chalk art, I'll take a photo of Nina and post it here on our Blog! Each week I will also post a photo of Nina at a location in Bedford, and you can try to guess where it is.
This week we walked around the Saint Anselm College campus and we found this cool sculpture! It is called "Stone Face" and it was originally mounted on the facade of the State Theater in Manchester before being donated to St. Anselm by Arnold Green in 1984.
Have a wonderful weekend!
~Ms. McGinty and Nina
Nina has been going on a lot of walks this week! We are walking around Bedford looking for #chalkyourwalk messages. If we walk by your chalk art, I'll take a photo of Nina and post it here on our Blog! Each week I will also post a photo of Nina at a location in Bedford, and you can try to guess where it is.
This week we walked around the Saint Anselm College campus and we found this cool sculpture! It is called "Stone Face" and it was originally mounted on the facade of the State Theater in Manchester before being donated to St. Anselm by Arnold Green in 1984.
Have a wonderful weekend!
~Ms. McGinty and Nina
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
#ChalkYourWalk Challenge - Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Hi everyone,
During these stressful times of social distancing, we all need to find ways to brighten our days. Going for walks is something that we are encouraged to do, so why not make those walks a little bit brighter for yourself and everyone in your neighborhood?
We are challenging you to #ChalkYourWalk with positive messages, funny jokes, beautiful drawings, or anything else that may brighten someone's day.
The goal is to write happy messages, have fun doing it, and spread some joy to others! We want to spread as much optimism, inspiration, and kindness as we can!
Please remember to be respectful in your chalking. Only chalk your own driveway and make sure your messages are appropriate for all to see.
After you are done, take a picture and send it to your school counselors! (galluzzok@sau25.net and mcgintyp@sau25.net) We cannot wait to see your positive messages of inspiration!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo and Ms. McGinty
During these stressful times of social distancing, we all need to find ways to brighten our days. Going for walks is something that we are encouraged to do, so why not make those walks a little bit brighter for yourself and everyone in your neighborhood?
We are challenging you to #ChalkYourWalk with positive messages, funny jokes, beautiful drawings, or anything else that may brighten someone's day.
The goal is to write happy messages, have fun doing it, and spread some joy to others! We want to spread as much optimism, inspiration, and kindness as we can!
Please remember to be respectful in your chalking. Only chalk your own driveway and make sure your messages are appropriate for all to see.
After you are done, take a picture and send it to your school counselors! (galluzzok@sau25.net and mcgintyp@sau25.net) We cannot wait to see your positive messages of inspiration!
Sincerely,
Ms. Galluzzo and Ms. McGinty
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