Self-care is a Must - Part II

 

As we move into a new season, fall that is, we also must think about and be mindful of flu season.  Thinking about the unknown impact that the flu may have can exasperate the stress that we already feel due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  For teachers and other school staff, this is even more true.

Taking care of ourselves matters now more than ever.  How do teachers and other school employees find time for self-care?  Although a challenge, not prioritizing it can be detrimental.

In researching and reading about this topic, I found an overwhelming amount of information.  That comes as no surprise with the stress, anxiety and other challenges being so prevalent at this time. For our teachers and staff, remote learning and many other changes due to the pandemic make self-care imperative.  

Where do you start?  Let’s explore a few key strategies.

Setting and maintaining boundaries is a first step.  With new schedules that, for some, involve working from home, it is easy to blur lines between workspace and family time.  Setting boundaries is about being intentional about your time and space whether at home or school. 

Establishing start and end times and sticking to them is a must in establishing boundaries.  It may even be necessary to schedule time for meals and turning off the computer and phone during this time.  Share this expectation with family and friends and ask for their support in this area.  Like most changes, consistency is the key in maintaining boundaries.

I often write about and talk about the power of gratitude and joy.  Appreciating these can be a clear form of self-care.  Do you have to search for joy and reasons to feel grateful? 

In our current space, it’s ok if the answer is yes.  If you are overwhelmed, take time to stop and truly examine all that is going well in your life and take inventory of the many reasons that you have to be grateful.  Journaling is a great way to unpack this.  Purchasing a gratitude journal or creating your own will be an outstanding investment for your own self-care.

Finally, be sure to establish regular human contact.  Now, this may be phone calls or virtual gatherings but they count.  Finding time to laugh with friends and feel a sense of normalcy will go a long way towards your self-care. 

I have enjoyed virtual Sunday brunch, virtual book club meetings, family celebrations and even a happy hour or two all in the comfort and safety of my own home.  Connecting to, laughing with and supporting each other has ensured that I remain linked with family and friends.

Whether you are a teacher, secretary, custodian or other staff member, please take care of yourself during this pandemic.  Team Selma is One Team, One Voice, Committed to Excellence.  And we need our team members happy and healthy.

For more information, email me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org

 

Self-care is a Must - Part I

 

This pandemic has sparked an endless array of emotions for our teachers, scholars, families and our school and district leaders.  Self-care is the key to securing emotional wellness during times of stress.  As leaders, self-care is a must.

 

According to Psychology Today, self-care means knowing who you are while also understanding your limits.  With proper self-care we know when we are doing more than we can handle and when it is time to take a break.  Making self-care a habit is essential for all but for this article, I want to focus on our school leaders.

 

To learn more this important issue, I asked Team Selma’s amazing school leaders how they engage in self-care and how important it is to them as a leader. 

 

Dyphelia Thrash, principal at The Clark Social Justice Academy volunteered that, “Stress negatively affects mental and physical health.  It is a silent killer.  Self-care is important for maintaining a healthy stress level.  For self-care, I engage in morning devotion and listen to music.”

 

Prayer, meditation and music all have healing and calming factors that contribute to overall wellness and peace of mind.  Spending quality time with oneself is an amazing way to stay whole and connected.

 

Many of our leaders, like me, engage in physical activity as part of their self-care routine.  Jason Munford, principal of School of Discovery shared, “I picked up running outdoor trails.  Running outdoors helped me relieve stress and helps me plan for the week or figure out solutions to problems I might have.”  As a runner myself, I can certainly attest to the many benefits of hitting the pavement or better yet, the trails.

 

Our Selma High leader, also believes in the power of physical activity for self-care.  Stoney Pritchett added, “I definitely lift weights and run four miles daily to relieve stress.  During that hour and a half, I relieve daily problems and relax my mind.  That time makes me a better leader and husband.  It’s a must every day.”

 

I am so glad that he included the family connection.  Our leaders have families at home and school who are relying on them.

 

Cicely Curtis, principal of R.B. Hudson STEAM Academy, pulls it altogether.  She explained, “Self-care is vital for my success as a leader and the team that I lead.  I can’t lead others if I am on empty as a leader.  During the pandemic, I set boundaries by protecting family and me time.  Time for myself consisted of thirty minutes of cycling and meditating.  This time allowed me to get more in-tuned with myself, listen to my body and evaluate my mindset to avoid becoming overwhelmed.”

 

Indeed, leaders cannot be effective if they are empty and struggling with their own mindset.  We could all learn much from these incredible leaders and I thank them for sharing.  Pandemic or not, consistent self-care is a must.  How are you caring for yourself?  Tune in next week for more details on the need for self-care during these unprecedented times.

 

For more information, email me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org

Present, Engaged and Supported

 

Did you know that poor school attendance can start as early as kindergarten and can affect a student’s achievement through high school? Consistent school attendance is very important. It allows students to build strong foundational skills in reading, math, and language. With this in mind, Selma City Schools is adopting the theme Present, Engaged and Supported: Don’t Count Me Out.

 

Being present is more important than ever during the remote learning space in which we find ourselves.  This means logging onto the learning management system daily, Monday through Friday.  It also means being on time.  Scholars are expected to logon before 9:00 a.m. each morning unless otherwise instructed by their teacher or school. 

 

Once logged on, scholars must be engaged and ready to work and participate.  This means being attentive to the instructor and minimizing distractions.  We know that this can be a challenge while learning at home.  Parents and guardians can assist with this by providing a quiet, organized space.  Additionally, making sure that scholars have the necessary supplies will also give them a greater opportunity to participate in each lesson with limited loss of instructional time.

 

Supporting our scholars is a must and can involve many stakeholders.  This includes our community partners like the YMCA and the Edmondites Missions who are providing supervision, internet connectivity and academic support.  Team Selma is also supporting our families with a variety of learning opportunities through our Parent University.

 

Each of the aforementioned aspects matter as many of our families are in poverty.  Research suggests that students who live in communities with high levels of poverty are four times more likely to be chronically absent than others often for reasons beyond their control, such as unstable housing, unreliable transportation and a lack of access to health care.

 

Indeed, there are many facets involved in our efforts of addressing and improving school attendance.  During the coming weeks, our teachers will continue to call the families of scholars who have not logged on.  If you have not been in contact with your child’s school, please give us a call as it is likely due to us not having a working phone number for you.

 

Being supported also means having reliable internet connectivity.  By the end of this week, all families should have received the letter and voucher from the Alabama Broadband for Connectivity (ABC) program.  This voucher can be used by families to provide free internet through December 30 of this year.  If you do not receive your voucher this week and still need internet connectivity please contact the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs or ADECA at 1-888-212-4998.

 

Team Selma looks forward seeing all scholars logged in and ready to learn until we can safely engage in traditional, face-to-face learning.  In the meantime, please continue to social distance, wear your mask and follow other CDC guidelines.  Check out our website and social media outlets for more information on our focus on student attendance. 

 

For more information, email me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org