The Echo

Volume 3 Issue 2

October 23, 2020

As we are well into a very strange start to our school year, one thing seems to remain the same: our students rise to the challenges they are given and strive for success! One student that has stood out to teachers is 8th grader, Michelle Kim. Virtual learning can come with a long list of challenges and obstacles, but Michelle has remained her same positive self throughout this experience. Her teachers report that Michelle logs into her Zoom classes with a big smile and a great attitude, always ready to help. Mr. Moyano reports “Her assignments are always on time and of excellence. It’s a true pleasure to have her as a student.” I can only imagine how difficult and overwhelming virtual learning can be for students, but Michelle is just one of many of our students that are rising to the occasion. Thank you, Michelle for going above and beyond as a Canyon Ridge Eagle. We appreciate you!

The counseling deptartment is excited to dig into our book study, “Deep Kindness” by Houston Craft. In a world that is in need of empathy and compassion, Craft explores the true nature of kindness and stresses the importance of kindness being explicitly taught. There are different levels of kindness that the book refers to. Common kindness includes pleasantries, your “please” and “thank you”. Confetti kindness tends to be mass marketed, feel good kindness that is usually done through random acts. Deep kindness involves “the type of kindness that overcomes selfishness and fear, the unconditional care that is given despite a person’s shortcomings or ugliness”. Though it is not easy, this is the type of kindness that we should all strive for. It requires emotional intelligences taught over time and constant reflection.

In chapter four, Craft describes what he calls the “Empathy Gap”, which is the sharp decline in our ability to show empathy which is closely linked to the increase of tech inventions and advancements. Dr. Borba, in her book, Unselfie, says when anxiety increases, empathy decreases which creates the gap. While we are more digitally connected, we are also more anxious and isolated. Devices allow for us to create carefully crafted versions of ourselves which we present to the world, rather than having to present our real selves to other people who may be imperfect or sometimes disagreeable. It's easier in a sense to plug in digitally where we have more control of our self image. As Craft puts it, “We live in a more digitally connected and socially isolated world than ever before... the kind of kindness the world needs is one that helps us feel less alone”.

So I leave you with a question. What is your definition of kindness, and how does your definition shape the way you interact in the world?

Kraft, H. (2020). Deep Kindness: A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness. Tiller Press.

By Shirley Dean (6), Staci Cote (7), and Lauren Gripentrog (8)

ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success

Sixth Grade: In our second lesson, students will demonstrate and strengthen their skills to resist negative peer influence.(ASCA B-SS 9 & B-SMS 9). Students will discuss the different types of peer pressure, including in-person and online pressures. They will also be equipped with skills to help avoid peer pressure.

Seventh Grade: My third counseling lesson will occur during advisory period in the second six weeks. During this guidance lesson, students will learn how the habit loop works and how, specifically, stress related habit loops affect our lives. Additionally, students will take some time to reflect on what qualities make for a good friend as part of an SEL lesson.

Eighth Grade: Our second lesson of the year, in eighth grade, is Four Year Planning Lesson Two. During this second lesson, students will understand A/B day schedule at VHS, review graduation requirements, and will learn how to earn credit in PE, fine arts, languages other than English, and professional communications/AVID (ASCA M1 & B-SMS 8). Students will update their practice four-year planning document with PE, fine art, LOTE, and professional communications/AVID credit(s) (ASCA B-LS 1 & 10). Lesson two outline here.