Hello Au Gres-Sims Families,
SAD is real, quite tangible, and can be commonly thought of as the "winter blues." The primary cause of these blues is the lack of sunlight that we experience during our winter months. This winter has been especially difficult for the blues, with cold temperatures, but less than normal snow amounts, making participation in the usual outdoor winter events more difficult. When you add the omicron wave that pushed through our community in January, it is easy to understand why everyone seems tired and beat down.
The good news is that winter won't last forever and spring will arrive sooner or later. In the meantime, we depart this week for a "mid-winter" break, with students and staff off of school for Friday, February 11th and Monday, February 14th. This four-day weekend is the perfect opportunity to combat the winter blues and to recharge the batteries until spring does begin to bud. I have found that one of the best ways to do this is to get outside and breath in the fresh air. Yes it is cold, but there is something invigorating about breathing in that crisp breeze, it refreshes more than the body, it refreshes the soul. I have made an outdoor walk part of my daily routine, rain or shine, hot or cold, and despite not always wanting to do so, I always feel better, happier, and more prepared to face the challenges of the day after going on a walk. I highly encourage everyone to give it a try, for your health, mental and physical, during this school break.
For more information about seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and some techniques for combatting it, please read the short articles linked below.
Have a wonderful 4-day break everybody. We hope that everyone comes back recharged and ready to go when we return on Tuesday, February 15.
-Mr. Ming
K-12 Principal's Update
In these tumultuous times depression is a common feeling for many. It can also take on different forms. We usually think of depression as a form of prolonged sadness, being “down” for a disturbingly long time. But depression can also take the form of irritability in children and teenagers. And irritability — a tendency to react angrily to slight annoyances or provocations — can result in everything from angry outbursts in younger children to cutting or snide remarks in teenagers.
So, what does irritability look like when it’s part of depression?
1) The irritability is constant rather than conditional.
2) The irritability is accompanied by other symptoms of depression.
3) The irritability with high energy could be caused by anxiety.
4) If the irritability is explosive, it could be DMDD (Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder).
So, what can you do if you are concerned?
1) Talk to them about how they’re feeling. If your child seems unusually irritable, something may be going on that’s driving the behavior. A good place to start is having a conversation with them to see if there’s something at school or at home that’s causing them stress.
2) If it’s less than constant, you may be able to ignore some of it. If your child’s irritability seems to be triggered by things they don’t want to do, or they’re irritable in the morning but pleasant in the afternoon, it’s less likely to be a sign of a mood disorder.
3) If it’s only happening at home, you may not need to be as concerned. Even if a teenager is irritable most of the time at home, if they’re happy at school or in other environments, then it’s more likely to be typical edginess than a mood disorder. I know that may be hard to believe, but teenagers tend to direct anger and irritability towards parents, since venting is less risky where you are most secure.
4) Talk to a mental health professional.
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
It has been a very busy week of NWEA make-ups, but we were able to complete almost all of them! Due to recent absences from COVID, we had over 200 tests to make up in the middle and high school alone! A huge thank you to Mrs. Davidson and Mrs. Gordon for assisting in getting these tests completed.
Now that we have the data, a lot of important events will be taking place. Next week, we will hold our IRIP meetings for our K-3 students to update goals and progress for those who have been identified as needing additional reading support as outlined by the Read By Grade 3 Law. We will also have data meetings to review this data and prepare to take next steps. This includes intervention groups and placement for the next seminar in middle and high school.
Believe it or not, we are also doing a lot planning for things happening this spring! Aside from Reading Month which will take place in March, we are also looking at testing schedules for both April and May. These events will be here before we know it, so planning is imperative at this time! Once again, you will start seeing information about Reading Month in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, please remember the importance of reading at home - even when it is not Reading Month. There are a number of benefits to reading with your students on a daily basis. Just 20 minutes of reading a day had a number of positive impacts, not just academically but also health-wise! While academic impacts include an increase in vocabulary and higher achievement in standardized tests scores, many people do not realize the benefits that reading can have on mental and physical health. Lower anxiety, better sleep, increased empathy, and strong relationships have also been shown to come as a result of reading with children on a daily basis. These types of benefits are rarely the focus of conversions about the benefits of reading, but something that we should all be paying attention, especially with all be have been through in the past couple of years.
Here is a link to an article that highlights some of the mental and physical benefits to reading!
Important Dates
February
- FRI. FEB 11: Student and Staff Holiday - NO SCHOOL
- MON. FEB 14: Student and Staff Holiday - NO SCHOOL
- WED. FEB 16: Early Release all students at 1:00 pm
- MON. FEB 21: Regular School Board Meeting 6pm in HS Cyber Cafe
Help Wanted at AGS
https://www.ags-schools.org/employment-opportunities--95
Job Opportunities at AGS
Full-time Special Education Teacher (1.0, but flexible to part time if desired by the candidate)
Upper Elementary Teacher (1.0)
Health Resource Advocate
We are also always on the lookout for substitute teachers. If interested, please inquire with Mrs. Miller in the district administration office, (989) 876-7157.
The Wolverine Wake-up
Au Gres-Sims School District
Email: web@ags-schools.org
Website: www.ags-schools.org
Location: 310 South Court Street, Au Gres, MI, USA
Phone: (989) 876-7150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuGresSims/?ref=br_rs
Twitter: @agsschools