BRANT AVENUE PUBLIC SCHOOL
64 Brant Avenue, Guelph, Ontario N1E 1G2
519-824-2671
Fax: 519-824-6159
Mair Ann Gault, Principal
Raffella Alton, Office Co-ordinator
December 2014
PLEASE NOTE: Our Monthly newsletters are always posted on our school website,
where you will be able to activate all internet links live as needed.
http://www.reachinginreachingout.com/aboutres
ilience.htm
I would also recommend the following video,
talking about how important “Grit” is for our
students in order for to be successful long
term:
“At Brant Avenue Public School we treat
others the way we want to be treated,
persevere and learn from our mistakes.”
http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth
_the_key_to_success_grit?language=en#t13291
Last year at Brant Ave. Public School we kicked
off our school motto. The first part of the motto
“treat others the way we want to be treated”
was the focus. This year, in addition to how we
treat others, we have added “persevere and
learn from our mistakes.”
Over the holidays and into the new year, I invite
you to speak to your children about the topics
of perseverance, and learning from our
mistakes. I invite you to articulate to your
children mistakes that you make, and how you
learn from them. (I know I make mistakes every
day!)
There is more and more research indicating
that we can teach even very young children
resiliency (the ability to bounce back from
adversity) by teaching them how to think about
problems that they confront.
If we are able to help students understand that
mistakes are learning opportunities, and to
value perseverance, we can help them
overcome many of life’s hardships.
To learn more about resiliency, and what you
can do as a parent to support your child, please
refer to the following website:
I wish you all a wonderful holiday, and a happy
new year. Please know, that as a school staff
we are here to help your entire family. Please
contact your classroom teacher, or the office if
you ever have a concern or need. We are in
this together!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Mair Ann Gault – Principal Brant Ave. P.S.
Christmas Concert
The dress rehearsal will be held on
Tuesday, December 9th at 9:05 a.m. The
performance will be on Thursday,
December 11th at 2:05 p.m. Parents and
guardians are well at both of these
performances.
It is getting chilly out and snow may fly
soon! Please remember to assist your
child(ren) in wearing proper clothing to
school. This includes a warm jacket, hat,
mitts and waterproof footwear. Thanks for
sending labeled extra socks and pants in
your child’s backpack just in case. Twenty
minutes can be a very long time if you are
not dressed properly return prepared for the
full school day.
School Arrival
Please discourage your children from
arriving before 8:40 a.m. There is no
supervision on the school yard until 8:40
a.m. and no one to supervise students
inside before the bell rings.
December Break
Students finish school on Friday, December
19th at the regular time. School resumes
again on Monday, January 5th, 2015.
Fifth Disease “Slapped Cheek”
If you or your family should contract Fifth
Disease or as it is often called “slapped cheek”, please notify the office
immediately. It is a virus that spreads
easily through contact with fluids from the
noise and lungs, and through contact with
blood. The cheeks will be red as if
someone has slapped them.
Outdoor Recess.
In the past, we have had a number of
parents requesting that their child remain
inside at recess time as (s)he is still getting
over being ill. It is not possible to supervise
these children during break time. All
students are expected to participate in
outdoor recess, as this is an important
activity. Active break aids concentration
and success in the classroom.
Please consider keeping your child home
an extra day so (s)he can recover and
return prepared for the full school day.
Lost and Found
During the second week of December, we
will be sorting the lost and found bins.
Items will be displayed down the length of
the hallways. Classes will walk down the
hallway to have a look and claim their
belongings. All unclaimed clothing will be
donated to charity. Please remember to
label all items of clothing, especially at this
time of year when hats, mitts and even
coats go missing. We want to be able to
return as many lost and found items as
possible.
Non - perishable food items for the
neighbourhood food pantry
We are collecting nonperishable food items
for the neighbourhood food pantry. You can
drop off donations around the tree in the
front foyer by the office before Thursday
Dec 18th and during the Winter Concert.
children safe is greatly appreciated.
Warm Winter Ski Gloves needed
Registration for junior kindergarten and
new senior kindergarten students for
September 2015 will take place in
February. Your child must turn four before
December 31st, 2015 for the junior
kindergarten program. Your child must turn
five before December 31st, 2015 for the
senior kindergarten program. If your child
is currently attending the junior
kindergarten program, please do not
register again. Please be sure to return the
Kindergarten Pre-Registration Form that is
attached. A registration package will be
sent out in January with further details.
Brant Ave PS will be decorating the tree
with warm winter ski gloves for the students
at our school. Please drop them off at the
office.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Staff enjoyed meeting with parents and
discussing strengths, next steps and
learning goals this month. Thank you for
finding time to meet with your child’s
teacher. The school-home connection is
very important to us as we work together to
make your child’s year a successful one. If
you have not yet had an interview, please
contact your child’s teacher to set this up.
Kindergarten Registration
Parking and Student Safety
Parents are reminded to park on the street
when visiting the school. Children and
parents walk through the parking lot both in
the mornings before school and at the end
of the day. As a safety precaution, we ask
that all parents and older siblings, who are
coming to the school to pick up students,
please meet at an outside meeting place at
the end of the day. Students are asked to
independently enter and exit through their
assigned doors.
We have a few parents who are coming
early to pick up their children on a regular
basis. Unless the children have an
appointment, please wait at the back of the
school with the other parents to pick up
your children. When your children are
picked up early on a regular basis, their
leaving disrupts the class and they miss out
on learning time. Thank you for
understanding.
Students are not to use the front doors for
entry/exit. Your support in keeping your
Safety Patrollers and -25c or Below
On extremely cold mornings, patrollers and
parents should listen to the radio for an
announcement regarding altered patrol post
coverage times: If no announcement is
made, carry on a usual.
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At -25c (including the wind chill
factor) an announcement will be
made on air indicating that patrollers
will be on duty for only the last five
minutes of their scheduled morning
time.
At afternoon dismissal, usually the
temperature has warmed up above 25c. If not, then the patrollers would
also shorten their time on duty to 10
minutes.
What is School Council?
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It is an advisory board that
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represents the parents, staff and
students in the community
Council provides input to the
principal and to the board where it is
applicable
It contributes to improving students
environment and learning by working
co-operatively with staff and the
parent community
The majority of council members are
parents
Parents can act as a parent
representative or can run to be an
executive on council
Executive positions are : chair or cochairs, secretary and treasurer
Council also includes 1 teaching
staff member, 1 non-teaching staff
member and the principal
All positions are for the school year
taking effect in September
the meetings.
School Council Meeting
The next school council meeting is on
Thursday, December 11th at 6:30 p.m. for
a Pot Luck Dinner. All welcome even if you
have never attended before.
School Council Fundraising Update
The fundraising committee has been hard
at work this fall. It has been decided by the
School Council in response to the annual
parent, student and staff survey, that the
fundraising money would be divided by
equally between Outdoor Equipment,
School Trips/ Enrichment and Technology.
Fundraising so far:
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Dieleman Fundraising – approx. $2600
profit
Movie Night – Coming up
Maple Leaf Fudge – to be announced
If you were on council you could:
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Assist in the development of the
school improvement plans
(system/school)
Participate with fundraising and
provide input on fundraising events
Work as an executive member
Provide input on the allocations of
funds from fundraising events
Be informed about programs and
school based decisions
Provide input into the schools code
of conduct
Council Members responsibilities:
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Attend meetings which are held once
a month
Contribute positively to the
discussions at the meetings
Solicit the views of other parents and
the community and share at
Thank you to all of our parents for
supporting your school community.
Movie Night “How to Train your
Dragon'
Thursday, December 18th will be a free
movie in the gym for all students
accompanied with an adult!
Doors open at 6:15 and movie starts at
6:30. Snacks available for sale.
School Safety Patrols
Our safety patrols have been doing an
excellent job in safeguarding our
students and parents as they walk to
and from school. We would like to
remind parents of the following:
PLEASE DO NOT ENTER OR EXIT
OUR PARKING LOT BETWEEN THE
HOURS OF 8:30 – 9:00 AM AND 3:00
– 3:30 PM.
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Please come to a full stop at stop
signs.
Please do not stop to let your
children off at the crosswalk or wave
to students to cross.
Please do not leave your car
unattended in the kiss and drive
area. This causes congestion and
often dangerous situations arise for
other parents trying to pull up to get
their children.
Please take care in attending to our
patrols and be patient.
Please do not park/stop in a no
parking/no stopping areas. This
blocks the line of view for our
patrols.
Unfortunately, all of the above behaviours
have been observed by teachers/patrols on
duty in front of our school. Our only
concern is the safety of all children and
parents as they arrive to and leave from
school each day.
No Dogs on the Schoolyard
A reminder to parents and visitors that dogs
are not allowed on the school yard during
the school day. As much as we like and
trust our own dogs, when they are on
school property and encounter fast moving
and often unpredictable children, they can
become stressed and a dog’s natural
reaction is to bite. Please help us to
safeguard our students by keeping your
dog(s) off school property during school
hours.
Dropping Students at School
Recently, a number of parents have been
taking their students to their classroom after
the morning bell has rung. This is a
reminder that parents need to drop late
students off at the office to report in and get
a late slip from the office. This assists us
greatly with our Safe Arrival Program.
Thank you for helping to keep our children
safe!
BOOTS, SNOW PANTS AND COATS
Brant Ave PS has a wide selection of
gently used boots, snow pants and
coats at the school. If you are in need of
any or all of these please contact or visit
the office to let us help.
Lice Information
Head lice are tiny, wingless bugs that live on the
head. Lice is spread by directly head-to-head
contact occasionally spread by hats, brushes,
headgear or hair accessories. Be sure to check all
areas of the head.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Itching and scratching
- Bite marks or sores on the head
- Irritability
Treatment:
Buy a head lice product from the drugstore
Consult your pharmacist or doctor if the product is
for a child under the age of 2 years
Read all of the instructions on the package carefully
Ask pharmacist for information regarding cleaning
bedding, clothes, air items etc.
**Financial support may be provided to buy
shampoo to treat lice. Please call the office if you
are in need of financial support. **
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Canadian Tire Money
Please consider donating any unused Canadian Tire
money to the school office for purchase of outdoor
play equipment for our students. Thank you.
Below is a Link to the Newsletter for the
Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario:
http://ldawc.ca/docs/news%20Dec%20L
D%202014.pdf
Library Update
November was Picture Book Month. We
celebrated by creating a rotating display of
picture books we have in the Brant Ave
Library. Students were encouraged to
choose a picture book and take it home to
read with a parent.
Picture books are sometimes dismissed by
students as being too easy and only for
young children. However, research points
to picture books as being a rich source of
vocabulary. For example, one study found
that there are more rare words in picture
books than any other written text, other
than in the courthouse. This is important
because studies show that the number one
indicator of whether a student will be a
good reader is the amount of vocabulary
they have.
If you are interested in learning more about
this topic I have included the link to two
articles that discuss this topic in more
detail.
http://www.richlandlibrary.com/kids/rarewords-are-key-child%E2%80%99ssuccess-reading
https://uwaterloo.ca/psychology/news/pictur
e-books-are-educational-children
November also saw the start and finish of
some student inquiry projects:
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The Grade 5 /6 class presented their
learning about the impact of technology on
our health and our environment, to parents,
students, teachers, and Mrs. Gault.
Students had a choice as to how they
would present their learning. Some
students made posters and others opted to
use the Chrome Books to show their
learning. Students who used technology
selected from, PowToons, Google Slides
and Glogster. It was clear from speaking
with students that a great deal of learning
occurred and every student took great pride
in sharing their new understanding of the
world.
The Grade 1/ 2 class has done several small
inquiries about animals. They have learned
about squirrels, bats and dogs. The students
have been using Pebble Go on UG2GO to
learn more about each animal. This is a great
site that is available to all students at home
when they log on to UG2GO. Students are
now starting to learn about celebrations
around the world. We have been using a
great app called Barefoot World Atlas which
allows student to spin the globe and zoom in
on a country of interest. Highlights of each
country are provided to students through
pictures, text and music. The app is available
through iTunes and has to be purchased, but
is a great addition if you’re looking for some
educational apps for your home iPad.
The Grade 3/4 class is working on a
student inquiry about Alberta (Grade 4) and
Red Lake, Ontario (Grade 3). We skyped
with students from both places and the
students are now learning more about both
places. One of the sites that students are
using to research is The Britannica School
Edition, which is also available through
UG2GO. The information is well presented
and includes pictures and some videos.
Students can even change the reading
level and have the option of having the
information read to them. Students can
access this site through UG2GO at home.
Learn about positive parenting
strategies, community resources and
programs.
Parents can call and speak with a public health
nurse about parenting, child development and health
related topics up to age 13 by calling KIDS LINE 1800-265-7293 ext. 3616. KIDS LINE is also the
access point for Growing Great Kids which
coordinates services from many local agencies for
children zero to six who have special physical,
social, emotional, communication and development
needs. Speak with a public health nurse Monday to
Friday, 8:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
www.wdgpublichealth.ca/?q=parents
“Progress Report Language”
Like all professions, educators sometimes use
language specific to teaching and learning. We
often don’t even realize when we have slipped into
using “edubabble”. On the Progress Report that has
just come home, we have made every attempt to
use language that is meaningful to parents. We
want you to know and understand what we are
doing at school, and how you can help support your
child’s learning. Below are some of the terms you
may have read on the Progress Report or hear at
the Parent/Teacher interview.
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Learning Goal: A learning goal is a stated
or written goal the teacher provides to help
students know exactly where they’re
heading in a lesson.
Success Criteria: Success criteria often
start with the words “I can ….”. Success
Criteria lists what the student needs to
do/accomplish for the lesson or unit of
study.
Descriptive Feedback: Descriptive
feedback can be oral or written. It is
provided by the teacher and offers the
student information on how he/she is doing.
Descriptive feedback lets students know
what their next steps are and what they can
do to improve.
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Guided Reading: Guided reading is small
group learning where the teacher helps
students practice and improve his/her
reading skills. The instruction, strategies
taught and reading material are carefully
chosen to meet the needs of each student.
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Three-Part Problem-Solving: Three-part
problem-solving is students learning
mathematics and developing an
understanding of mathematics through
reasoning and working through a problem. It
has 3 distinct stages:
1. Before – Getting started or Minds On is
introducing and practicing mathematical
ideas and strategies that connect to the
day’s learning goal.
2. During – Learning or Action is solving the
lesson’s problem in pairs, small groups or
individually. The students develop their
knowledge, thinking and strategies while the
teacher pushes and guides their learning
using questioning and feedback.
3. After - (a) Consolidation is a whole-class
discussion where the teacher and the class
analyze the solutions the students came up
with to the problem. Together they highlight
key mathematical ideas and strategies. (b)
Independent Practice is the students solving
a problem(s) similar to the lesson to practice
the same skills and try out the new ideas.
Adapted from:
“A Guide to Effective Instruction in Mathematics, Problem Solving
and Communication, K-6”’
“Bansho (Board Writing)”, Capacity Building Series, 2011
“Communication in the Mathematics Classroom”, Capacity
Building Series, 2010
“Early Reading Strategy, The Report of the Expert Panel on
Early Reading in Ontario”, 2003
“Grand Conversations in the Junior Classroom”, Capacity
Building Series, 2011
“Growing Success, Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in
Ontario”, 2010
“Making Room for Talking to Learn”, Adolescent Literacy:
Engaging Research and Teaching, Literacy Gains
Bigger Than That Presentation:
As part of our Anti-Bullying Week we welcomed
country singer, Ryan Laird to our school for an
amazing message concerning inclusion and
awesome music for us to enjoy!
On November 11th we were fortunate to have a
informative Remembrance Day Assembly, put on by
our school Drama Club under the direction of Mr.
Graham.
ON BEHALF OF THE BRANT AVENUE
STAFF, WE WISH YOU A VERY MERRY
CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A
SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
~ December 2014 ~
Sun
7
Mon
Tue
1
2
8
9
Grade 5/6
Field TripGuelph
Museum
Wed
15
16
Sat
4
5
6
10
11
12
13
18
19
20
26
27
Police Visit Grade
Boys Volleyball –
1’s & 5’s
14
Fri
3
9:05 Rehersal Winter Girls Volleyball –
Concert
AM @
Willow Road PS
Safety Patrol pizza
lunch
Thu
2:05 Winter
Concert in
Gym
PM @
Willow Road PS
17
Movie Night
6:15 in the Gym
RED & GREEN
DAY
'How to Train
your Dragon'
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24
25
NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL
Holiday Break Holiday Break Holiday Break Holiday Break Holiday Break
28
29
30
31
Notes:
Students return back to school
NO SCHOOL Monday Jan. 5th, 2015
NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL
Holiday Break Holiday Break Holiday Break
Created with WinCalendar Calendar Creator
More Templates: 2014 Calendar, 2015 Calendar
FREE STORM TICKETS!!!!
Brant Ave PS has been given storm tickets on behalf of Bobby
O’Briens Irish Pub through the Guelph Storm Adopt-A-School
program. For reading the newsletter you now have a chance at
winning 4 tickets to the date you sign up for!
Section 113 Row 7 Seats 3-6.
AND
Section 106 Row 4 Seats 103-106
Please hand in the bottom half of this page to the office and the
date you are able to attend. There will be one draw for every week
in the month for your chance to win. So keep reading the
newsletters!
* Parents will be asked to fill in a thank you
form if your family is picked*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tear off this section
Students Name:
I am available: (check off any dates you are available )
Friday, December 12th, against Owen Sound _______
Sunday, December 14th, against Oshawa _______
Thursday, December 18th, against Sault Ste. Marie _______
Saturday, December 20th, against Erie _______
Sunday, December 28th, against Barrie _____
Friday, January 02nd, against Owen Sound ______
Must be handed into the office no later than December 8th
What is an IEP?
An Individual Education Plan, or IEP, is “a written plan describing the special
education program and/or services required by a particular student.” (Ontario Ministry of
Education, Individual Education Plans: Standards for Development, Program Planning,
and Implementation, 2000, p. 3). IEPs can be developed for exceptional students (as
identified by an Identification Placement and Review Committee), or based on student
need, regardless of identification. IEPs can address academic and behavioural learning
needs; they are written by teachers in consultation with parents, as well as students,
where appropriate.
All IEPs must include a student profile which identifies the child’s name, their
date of birth, teacher’s name, grade, class placement (if applicable), relevant
assessment information, relevant medical diagnoses, as well as their strengths and
needs (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2000, p. 6). IEPs including modified or alternative
expectations must include annual program goals.
IEPs must also list any accommodations that are required for the student to
learn. Accommodations can be environmental (e.g., a quiet place, a special chair),
instructional (e.g., reading instructions aloud, breaking tasks down into shorter steps
and chunks), and for assessment (e.g., allow oral responses, allow more time on
tests). Some accommodations are offered to all students (e.g., use of graphic
organizers), however, they are essential for a student if listed on the IEP.
Modified and alternative IEPs include goals for each semester. Modified goals
can be goals from a different grade curriculum (e.g., for a child in grade 4 who is
reading at a grade 1 level), or can be at grade level (i.e., when a child can do some
grade level work but is completing fewer or less complex expectations). Alternative IEPs
can address behavioural goals and life skills. Report cards for children with alternative
or modified IEPs are based on the IEP expectations and goals.
For more information about IEPs please speak to your child’s teacher, principal,
or consult the following websites:
The IEP Process: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/speced/individu.html
The Individual Education Plan (IEP), A Resource Guide (2004):
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/speced/guide/resource/
People for Education: Special Education Tip Sheet
http://www.peopleforeducation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Special-Education.pdf
Helping your child learn French
As a parent, the best thing you can do to help support your child’s learning is talk with him or
her in the spoken language used at home. Talking helps build communication skills. These
skills are transferable from one language to another. (Cummins, 1998)
When engaging with your child, consider the following:
•listen to a television program together and ask your child to share his/her thinking
•listen to music and ask your child why he/she thinks the artist wrote the song
•listen to the radio and ask your child to share his/her opinion about what is happening in the city
and/or the world
•use a variety of words (i.e, friendly, kind, considerate)
•allow your child to hear you questioning what you see and hear around you
•talk out loud as you attempt to solve a problem
•tell your child a story about when you were little or tell him/her a
story about something that happened at work that day and leave off the ending for him/her to
provide
• ask your child to provide 3 things and make up a story that includes all three (example: a
princess, a race car, and an ice cream cone)
• read aloud daily to your child, talk about the pictures, make predictions and see if they come
true
• read to your child on vacation or during a long wait at the doctor’s office
• read a book to your child and ask him/her what he/she would do if he/she was the main
character
•leave notes for your child in his/her lunch box or school bag
•ask your child to leave notes for you around the house
•have your child create a to-do list
•play word games such as Scrabble Junior and Boggle
• encourage your child to bring his/her writer’s notebook whenever he/she goes on family outings
where there will be plenty to notice, wonder and write about
Parents who don’t know French can help their child learn French.
Talking About Mental Health – Heading into the Holiday Season - December 2014
For many people, the holiday season is a joyous time, one that lifts, a time when we gather with family and friends
to share traditions immersed in food, music, and gift-giving. We anticipate the excitement of children, and are
often cast back into memories of childhood.
That is one version of the holidays. But it most certainly isn’t the story for most people. The holiday season is a
very difficult time for many, many people.
In the two weeks before and after the holidays, suicide rates rise by 40%, couples are more likely to break up,
depression worsens in adolescents and adults, and domestic violence rates peak. Financial pressures are felt at the
holiday season. Substance use increases. People who suffer from depression or who are grieving the loss of a loved
one often find the holiday season excruciating. Loneliness and isolation are felt acutely during the holiday season.
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook, some of you may have seen it making the rounds. I don’t know who the
author is, so I cannot give credit, but I think it has an important message as we head into the holiday season.
Some thoughts as we enter the holiday season. It is important to remember that not everyone is
surrounded by large wonderful families. Some of us have problems during the holidays and some of us are
overcome with great sadness when we remember the loved ones who are not with us. And, many people
have no one to spend these times with and are besieged by loneliness. We all need caring, loving thoughts
right now. May I ask my friends…to give a moment of support for all those who have family problems,
health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know someone cares. Do it for all of us,
for nobody is immune.
For anyone, the pressure to ‘get it right’, to create a magical holiday season, and to indulge loved ones and fulfill
dreams, can make one dread the season. For those who struggle with not enough time, energy, or money - which
is most working families - the pressure can be intense. But it does not have to be that way. You can protect
yourself and your family from undue stress at the holiday season.
1. Learn to say no: The holiday season offers an open invitation to overbook and run yourself ragged. Learn to say
no to the things that you have neither the time nor energy for. Embrace those events that feed your soul and
bring you comfort and enjoyment. But say no to those that will take more physical or emotional energy than you
can spare. Learn to say, “I would enjoy this, but know I simply cannot do it at this time. Thank you.”
If yours is a blended family and your children have multiple homes to visit, reduce the number of other events
even further; no matter how excited children and youth might be for the holiday season, they too only have so
much room for multiple commitments. They will take their cues about self-care and stress management from you.
Show them how to say no.
2. Adjust unrealistic expectations: Your children will not be scarred for life if you buy your tree from Canadian Tire
instead of hand-cutting it in the bush. A string of lights in the shape of a tree, twinkling on a living room wall can
work just fine if need be. It is not about the tree. If these things bring you great joy and fit seamlessly into your life
without adding stress, fine. But if not, don’t put pressure on yourself to do them. Instead, focus on why you
celebrate this season, on peaceful, quiet time with loved ones, and on finding some reflective time for yourself.
3. Make a list. This is a time when a list can really help you set clear goals and limits. Make a list of all the
preparations you would like to do. Then review the list and strike out all those things that are unrealistic,
excessive, or that you probably won’t get around to. Take them off the list because leaving them there will add
stress. Leave only those that are possible and will bring you joy. Then cut that list in half. Seriously.
Most importantly for your list, set a deadline after which your preparations are done. You might not have found
that last perfect stocking stuffer, but your loved ones will have a calmer and happier you, and that will be the best
gift of all.
4. Anticipate the hard parts. Family tensions and difficult relationships are not magically healed at the holiday
season. In fact, with all the pressure to have a good the holiday season, families are often on edge and at their
worst.
If you can’t avoid difficult relationships, get creative. Plan an activity for the family – board games, a sport, or a
long hike after dinner – to avoid the tensions that can arise sitting face-to-face. Keep the planned visits short and
limit the alcohol, which can fuel emotions otherwise kept under wraps. A short the holiday season breakfast might
work better than a dinner. Don’t be afraid to change it up.
5. Know your limits. Know your limits and ask people to respect them. You do not have to allow your (or others’)
children to run wild if it exhausts them and everyone else. The family rules still apply. You also do not have to put
up with ill-behaved relatives or friends, no matter what the season. Similarly, don’t put pressure on people to be
joyous if they are not. We are all travelling different paths; you can’t always know what someone is dealing with.
If you have teens, be understanding. They often feel mixed feelings at this time, a combination of child-like
excitement but also embarrassment about it. Protect them from the criticism of relatives, who often feel
compelled to point out teens’ flaws to parents. And avoid the urge to nag if your adolescent flops on the couch like
a boneless chicken, looking bored, disinterested in family activities. Be patient. Adolescence is temporary.
Avoid unhealthy forms of coping. Don’t short-change your sleep or eat or drink too much; it never helps. Exercise,
rest, good nutrition, and self-acceptance do help. If you are someone who over-does it, ask yourself why. It is
probably a response to stress.
6. Don’t be a slave to tradition. This one is difficult, because we invest emotionally in our traditions. They connect
us together with our spiritual, familial, and cultural histories. They are a source of comfort in troubled times and
they can be a source of joy. But if traditions become rigid expectations, they become a source of pressure or
anxiety if something happens and the tradition cannot be upheld. So remember that traditions are just markers of
our values, our loves, and our lives, but are just markers – they can be changed, left out, or recreated anytime and
it does not diminish us or the meaning of the holiday season.
7. Be kind to yourself and others. This is the most important of all. As you learn to set reasonable limits for
yourself, others often object. That’s okay. They are just trying to manage their own expectations. Don’t give in, but
be understanding of their confusion. And if someone disappoints you, reach inside your loving self for compassion
and understanding. Maybe that person is experimenting with his or her own limits, or struggling to cope with too
many demands, or is just another messy, imperfect human. Like you and I.
You can avoid the stress and pressure of the holiday season and instead increase your ability to experience some
peace and enjoy your loved ones. The sites listed below provide tips and suggestions for de-stressing the season.
Take a moment and read some of them.
Have a reasonable holiday season. Peace to all.
Dr. Lynn Woodford is the Mental Health and Addiction Lead for Upper Grand District School Board
http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/keep-holiday-stress-minimum/
http://psychologytoday.com/blog/mindfulness-in-frantic-world/201112/the holiday season-stress-relief-mindful-ten-dayguide/
www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/the holiday season/the-hectic-holiday-handbook/
Neuman, F. (2013) “Haunted by the Ghost of The holiday season Past,” Psychology Today.
Breitman, P & Hatch, C. (2000) “How to say no Without Feeling Guilty”, Broadway Books.
For children, youth and families who have experienced trauma, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has
some excellent resources on the holiday season and coping with grief, trauma and also economic stress.
http://www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness/holiday-stress