May 2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual observance founded by Mental Health America in 1949 to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing, educate the public, reduce stigma and promote support for those affected by mental health conditions.

One of the most powerful ways you can support Mental Health Awareness Month is by taking care of your own mental wellbeing. When you lead by example, you show others that it’s okay to slow down, check in with yourself and make mental health a priority. Start your mental health journey by downloading the Mindful Moments Checklist.

We’re looking forward to a fun and active Field Day! To help everyone stay safe and comfortable, please review the following important reminders:

👟 Footwear

• Wear comfortable shoes with proper support. Sneakers are best!

• No Crocs, sandals, or flip-flops — these can be unsafe during active play.

🌞 Sun Protection

• Apply sunscreen before coming to school. Staff will not be able to apply sunscreen during the day.

• Wear a hat to help protect your face from the sun.

💧 Stay Hydrated

• Bring a refillable water bottle labeled with your name. It’s important to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

👕 Clothing

• Wear comfortable clothing that allows for lots of movement and activity.

• Bring a change of clothes in case you get wet or dirty during the activities.

Let’s stay safe and have an awesome time outdoors!

Warm, sunny days are wonderful. It's good for children to spend time playing and exercising outdoors, and it's important they enjoy it safely. Here are some tips on how to help keep your family safe from too much exposure to the sun's harmful rays.

Simple rules to protect your family from sunburns

• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, an umbrella, or the stroller canopy.

• Dress yourself and your children in cool, comfortable clothing that covers the body when possible. Think lightweight cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats.

• Select clothes made with a tight weave, which protect better than clothes with a looser weave.

• Wear a hat with an all-around 3-inch brim to shield the face, ears, and back of the neck.

• Limit your sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when UV rays are strongest.

• Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection. Look for youth-sized sunglasses with UV protection for your child.

• Use sunscreen (see more below).

• Make sure everyone in your family knows how to protect their skin and eyes. Remember to set a good example by practicing sun safety yourself.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen can help protect the skin from sunburn and some skin cancers but only if used correctly. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be used for sun protection, not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

How to choose a sunscreen

• Use a sunscreen that says "broad-spectrum" on the label; that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 (up to SPF 50). An SPF of 15 or 30 should be fine for most people. More research studies are needed to test if sunscreen with more than SPF 50 offers any extra protection.

How to apply sunscreen

• Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet, hands and even backs of the knees. Rub it in well.

• Put sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. It needs time to absorb into the skin.

• Use sunscreen any time you or your child spend time outdoors. Remember that you can get sunburn even on cloudy days because up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can get through the clouds. Also, UV rays can bounce back from water, sand, snow, and concrete, so make sure you're protected.

• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating or drying off with a towel. Because most people use too little sunscreen, make sure to apply a generous amount.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/whats-the-best-way-to-protect-kids-skin-from-sunburn.aspx

The first berries of the season typically start to appear at the end of May or beginning of June. Get the freshest berries possible and Pick-Your-Own berries at one of the local farms.

Layered yogurt parfait with berries makes an easy breakfast or snack, while using strawberries in a savory pasta salad adds extra flavour.

In May, our friends at PEM are hosting SEE ME: Salem Public Schools student art installation.

Enjoy a beautiful seaside hike at Halibut State Park.

Head to the Forest River Park pool this summer.

It’s not too early to start planning for fun filled summer Fridays.