The Weekly Update

🤝 SOCIAL FOCUS: Listening to Understand (Not to Reply)

Most people don't listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.

When a friend is talking, we often spend our energy planning what we're going to say next instead of truly hearing them.

• The Quick Fix: Practice Active Mirroring. When a friend finishes speaking, summarize what you heard before giving advice: "It sounds like you felt really overwhelmed when that happened."

• Why It Works: It makes people feel validated and safe around you, deepening trust instantly.

🧠 EMOTIONAL FOCUS: 60-Second Reset (Physiological Sigh)

Need an instant physical brake on anxiety? Use your body's built-in reset button.

Neuroscientists have identified the double-inhale breath as the fastest way to reduce physiological arousal in real time.

• The Technique:

  1. Take two quick inhales through your nose (one deep inhale, followed immediately by a second quick sip of air).

  2. Take one long, slow exhale through your mouth.

• Repeat 2–3 times whenever panic spikes before a speech or test.

🥗 HEALTHY LIVING FOCUS: Evening Wind-Down Routines

How you spend the last hour of your day dictates the quality of your sleep.

Jumping straight from intense studying or video games into bed keeps your nervous system too revved up for deep, restorative sleep.

• The Upgrade: Create a 30-Minute Wind-Down Buffer. Turn off academic screens, dim the overhead lights, and do something low-intensity (read fiction, sketch, journal).

• Pro-Tip: Keep your bedroom slightly cool (around 65–68°F); a lower body temperature signals your brain to initiate sleep.

🎯 THIS WEEK’S MICRO-CHALLENGE

• Social: Use "Active Mirroring" in at least one conversation this week.

• Emotional: Practice 3 double-inhale sighs during a high-stress moment.

• Healthy Living: Implement a 30-minute screen-free wind-down routine tonight.

From the Handbook:

Every 3 unexcused tardies equal 1 unexcused absence. Accumulating unexcused absences places students in higher restriction tiers for parking, field trips, and prom.

Home Connection:

Discuss the importance of being in first-period class on time every morning.

Sophomores & Senior (CTE completers) will take the PreACT & WorkKeys, Tues. October 20.

Freshmen & Juniors will be participating in a Field Day during this testing time, or completing job shadowing experiences.

If you are not involved in the testing Tuesday, you may decide to Job Shadow. To participate in job shadowing, come by the office and pick up a form so you will NOT be count "absent".

Golf @ Regionals

Soccer HOME - Mtn. Heritage

Drama Club - 245-430

Sophomores & Seniors - ACT/PreACT

Field Day

Volleyball @ Community School of Davidson

Drama Club - 245-4pm

Soccer @ Madison

XCountry - @ Madison

Football @ Madison