STC Newsletter
January 2025
setting SMART goals this year
A New Year brings new beginning!. 365 days with blank pages. A "do over" or a new opportunity....another chance...a new year's resolution...a time to start over with a clean slate...However you want to view it, setting goals can help us navigate change positively and impact our future. Re-evaluating goals keeps us accountable and helps us achieve goals! Kids learn by example. What are you doing to teach your children and students about setting and achieving their goals?
Setting goals is an executive function that can be learned quickly and easily during childhood and keeps developing during the teens and into the the twenties. Setting goals exercises other executive functions like the ability to control your attention, consider and think about other options and concepts, tune out irrelevant information and stimuli and manage time effectively. By problem-solving, estimating time and tasks, planning, reviewing and re-evaluating, it improves the ability to plan and accomplish tasks next time, next year, or next goal.
Writing goals down and sharing goals with someone are the first steps in helping us reach goals, but learning to set SMART goals helps to clearly define what steps need to be taken to reach our goals. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound.
Use the template below to help set SMART goals and develop a habit of setting goals to succeed! Research suggests that writing your goals down increases your success by 33%!
I truly love working with this girl...for lots of reasons....but mostly because I never need to doubt that she will keep her word! In a month where most of us become overwhelmed with holiday celebrations, family commitments, and possibly just life....this one took it all in stride and divided in order to conquer! When some may have eliminated a few things from their schedule, this one, picked up the pace and made time for all those who matter to her. She set her priorities and made it all happen to best of her abilities! I applaud a teenager who can do that! I applaud all who can do it consistently! I appreciate that she recruited volunteers to help when needed and chose to throw candy from the care bus in the lighted Christmas parade on a cold Saturday night. Thank you Aubrey for helping wrap Christmas gifts for families from NHS and Schools That Care. You naturally have the true Christmas Spirit!
~a critical life skill
https://www.crayola.com/Parents and teachers play a critical role in nurturing children's creativity. An oft believed myth is that creativity relates only to the arts- career fields such as art, music, fashion and design. But in today's world a broader concept is that creativity equals "imagination in action", according to a recent study, "Campaign for Creativity", by the Crayola company. Crayola is attempting to "trigger a cultural conversation about the importance of creativity among children" because, according to their Executive Vice President, Victoria Lozano,
"Creativity is more important today than it ever has been
because the pace of innovation is accelerating faster
than ever before."
In a recent Parents magazine article, she also stated that creativity is a core workplace skill.
"Creative thinking, including problem-solving and learning
from our mistakes, are among the most sought-after skills
in any career.".
Also, Crayola boasts that data from this study proves that children's creativity:
- predicts career achievement---earning potential, achievement, satisfaction and the likelihood of becoming an entrepreneur.
- boosts educational attainment
- enhances well-being among kids and fulfillment in adulthood.
Seeking tips to boost kids' creativity could impact the trajectory of a child's life!
together we served 43 families a Christmas Meal box
It truly takes a village...in this case a Christmas Village! Valley Heights Kays and Schools That Care partnered with the Valley Heights student body, community members, Riverside Market, Bon Mot Bakery and the Blue Rapids Methodist Church to serve 43 Christmas Meal boxes to VH families in December. In November, the flyers went up, rules and a point system were set for a Seminar Challenge among VH classes, volunteer pie makers began signing up and in December donations began coming in to make pies and fill meal boxes. Families were referred who might need a meal provided and then they were contacted to accept and confirm. Volunteers made pies at home; some were frozen and some were fresh baked! Marysville Wal-Mart contributed a gift card to use for purchasing some of the needed hams. Other needed supplies were ordered locally at Riverside Market and provided at a discounted price and students wrapped empty boxes. Other volunteers gathered at the Blue Rapids Methodist Church to make and bake pies together with Ashley Shill of Bon Mot Bakery who fearlessly led and organized the community group pie baking efforts. 43 boxes were filled and delivered to the church to prepare for distribution. KAYS students shopped for the remaining necessary items to fill each box.
Meal boxes were distributed from the Blue Rapids Methodist Church location, because it is also the sight of the local food pantry. "Hopefully that help makes a resource connection for families if they are in need of food at other times of the year," added Jayne Whitson, Family Advocate. "Baking pies there too makes it convenient to provide fresh baked pies for families when they pick up their meal box. Ashley has been a huge help in organizing an event where anyone is welcome to help and learn to bake pies too. I wish more people could come join us in preparing pies, but I know it is a busy time of the year for everyone. We were blessed this year with those who made pies at home to donate!"
It's the most wonderful time of the year!" exclaimed one recipient who thanked us for helping make Christmas special for her family this year.
Thank you to KAYs, VH students and staff donors, community donors and volunteers who made a Christmas meal for families to share this holiday season. Loving and caring for others is the true reason for the season!
