Shepherd Middle BlueJay Bulletin

This week, our spring testing season begins. Eighth grade students will take the PSAT on Tuesday, while other grade levels are starting NWEA assessments. MSTEP testing is also approaching in the coming weeks.

Our focus is on choosing effort over excuses. Students are learning that while it may be easy to give up or avoid challenging tasks, real growth happens when they push through discomfort and continue working toward a goal.

Try this at home: Encourage your child to share something they worked hard on this week, and take time to recognize their effort, not just the outcome.

April 14- 8th Grade PSAT

April 24 - No School - Maple Syrup Festival

April 27 - No School - Staff PD

Coping with Emotions Through Mindfulness 🌱

Last week, we talked about how emotional “showers” — like tears — can help us grow. This week, we’re focusing on coping — the tools we use to manage those emotions in healthy ways.

Positive emotions are easy to embrace, but negative ones like sadness, anger, or anxiety can be harder to handle. Many people try to ignore or “push down” painful emotions, a response known as suppression. While this might bring short-term relief, research shows that suppressing emotions can actually increase stress and raise risks for physical health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Suppressed emotions also tend to return with greater intensity later on.

So what works better? One powerful coping skill is mindfulness — paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Simply naming what you’re feeling can reduce the emotion’s intensity and build emotional resilience.

🌟 Try this quick 5 Senses Mindfulness Activity:

👀 Name 5 things you see
✋ 4 things you feel
👂 3 things you hear
👃 2 things you smell
💬 1 thing you taste or something you’re grateful for

Mindfulness works best when practiced regularly — even for just a minute or two a day. Like brushing your teeth keeps cavities away, daily mindfulness helps clear mental “clutter” and strengthens emotional balance over time.

Just a little daily practice can calm the storm and help beautiful things grow. 🌸

Learn More

About Suppression:

About Mindfulness:

Mindfulness Explained (2-min video)

What Is Mindfulness? – TRAILS to Wellness (PDF)

The article "How Teens and Parents Approach Screen Time" from Pew Research examines the contrasting perspectives between teenagers and their parents regarding digital device use. Here’s a concise summary:

• Both teens and parents agree that screens play a central role in daily life, yet they see its impact differently.
• Teens view screen time as essential for staying connected with peers, accessing information, and fostering creativity, which makes digital engagement a core part of their social and educational experiences.
• Parents express concerns about excessive screen use, citing risks such as poor sleep habits, reduced physical activity, and distractions from academic work. They also worry about the potential for digital addiction and its long-term effects on mental and physical health.
• The research highlights that many families are trying to find a balance by negotiating screen time rules. Open communication is viewed as key for setting guidelines that respect teens’ need for autonomy while addressing parental concerns.
• Overall, the study suggests that while screens are an indispensable part of modern life, a thoughtful, collaborative approach to managing screen time can help mitigate its drawbacks without foregoing the benefits.

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/03/11/how-teens-and-parents-approach-screen-time/

PA 57 of 2023

PA 57 of 2023 requires districts to provide all students in grades 6–12 with the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Information Guide, the district’s Title IX coordinator contact information, and the district policies on sexual assault and harassment. This information, for Shepherd Public Schools, is linked below.