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Practical Strategies to Minimize Stress for Kids and Parents During the Holidays

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The holiday season is a joyous yet hectic time, especially for families with children. Between holiday preparations, family gatherings, and the season’s excitement, it’s easy for both parents and kids to feel overwhelmed. To keep stress at bay and make the most of the festivities, consider these helpful tips:

Stick to a Routine: Children find comfort in routine. Try to maintain as much of your child’s routine as possible during the holiday season. If travel or events disrupt the usual schedule, keep at least one or two familiar rituals, like their morning or bedtime routine. A little consistency goes a long way.

Manage Expectations: Holidays often bring high expectations for both parents and kids. Discuss your holiday plans beforehand, including the events you will attend, the people you will see, and even the presents they might receive. This discussion can help mitigate disappointment and manage their expectations.

Get Them Involved: Involving children in holiday preparations can help them feel valued and included. Things as simple as decorating, baking, and choosing gifts as a family can go a long way. This allows them to develop their planning and organizational skills and can make the festivities more meaningful for them.

Encourage Downtime: Balancing busy activities with quiet time is essential. Children need breaks just as much as adults. Encourage them to read, draw, or engage in play. This downtime can help them process the stimuli of the season and rejuvenate.

Teach Stress Management: Teach your kids simple strategies to manage stress. Techniques like deep breathing, expressing feelings through words, or squeezing a stress ball can teach children to handle their emotions during stressful times.

Manage Your Stress: Your mood can affect those around you, as children often pick up on their parents’ stress levels. It’s okay to manage your stress for your own well-being. It will set a healthy example for those around you, helping to maintain a calm household. Remember, you deserve to take care of yourself too.

Keep an Open Line of Communication: Regularly check in with your kids about their feelings. Encourage them to express their excitement and concerns. Recognizing and validating their feelings can help them feel supported.

Simplify Your Schedule: You are not obligated to attend every holiday event. It’s okay to say no to lower stress levels within your household. The best memories are often made at home, spending quality time baking cookies and watching holiday movies. This can bring a sense of connection and joy, making the holiday season more enjoyable for everyone.

By planning and focusing on what really matters, you can ensure a memorable and relaxed holiday season for the entire family. Remember, the best gift you can give is to be a happy, calm, and present parent.

Are you looking for more helpful tips? Our other blog posts offer additional resources to support your family through the holidays and beyond!

Empowering Students: The Critical Role of Emotional Intelligence in Modern Education

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In the evolving landscape of education, emotional intelligence (EI) has emerged as a crucial skill set, equipping students with the ability to navigate academic challenges and social interactions effectively. Teaching emotional intelligence in schools is not just an enhancement to the curriculumā€”it is essential for developing well-rounded, empathetic individuals who can thrive in increasingly complex social and professional environments.

Understanding Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. This encompasses skills such as emotional awareness, empathy, self-regulation, and social skills. In an educational setting, fostering these skills can lead to improved learning outcomes, better student relationships, and a more harmonious school environment.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Schools

The integration of EI into education can have profound impacts on students:

  • Enhanced Academic Performance: Students with high emotional intelligence often manage stress more effectively and concentrate better, leading to improved academic results.
  • Improved Social Interactions: EI skills help students navigate social complexities, build stronger relationships, and resolve conflicts more constructively.
  • Greater Self-Awareness: Learning about emotions helps students understand their own motivations and needs, aiding in personal development.
  • Resilience Building: EI teaches students how to cope with setbacks and challenges, fostering resilience.

Strategies for Incorporating EI into the Curriculum

  1. Explicit EI Lessons: Integrate dedicated lessons on emotional intelligence into the school curriculum. These could cover topics such as identifying emotions, empathy training, and effective communication strategies.
  2. Integrated Learning Approaches: Teachers can embed EI principles into existing subjects. For example, literature classes offer opportunities to discuss characters’ emotional responses and interpersonal dynamics, while group projects can be used to cultivate teamwork and conflict-resolution skills.
  3. Mindfulness and Reflection Exercises: Start the day with mindfulness exercises encouraging students to reflect on their emotions. This can enhance self-regulation and reduce anxiety.
  4. Role-Playing and Social Simulations: Engage students in role-playing scenarios that require them to employ empathy, negotiation, and cooperation. These practical applications can make EI concepts more tangible and relatable.
  5. Professional Development for Teachers: Equip teachers with the tools and knowledge to teach and model emotional intelligence. Workshops and training sessions on EI can help educators learn how to integrate these concepts into their teaching methods effectively.
  6. Parental Involvement: Extend EI education to the home environment by providing parents with resources and training on emotional intelligence. This helps create a consistent support system for students’ emotional development.

At the heart of educational success is academic knowledge, emotional understanding, and competency. By prioritizing emotional intelligence in schools, educators can provide students with the essential tools needed for personal and professional success. Implementing these strategies requires commitment and collaboration across the educational community, but the benefitsā€”happier, healthier, and more successful studentsā€”are immeasurable.

Educators and school leaders, let’s make a collective effort to integrate emotional intelligence into our curriculums. Join us in transforming educational environments into spaces where students think intelligently and feel wisely. For more resources on incorporating EI into your teaching practices, visit our Educational Resource Page. Together, we can shape a future where education embraces the whole studentā€”mind and heart alike.

The Importance of Tailored Education for Special Needs Students

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Education is not one-size-fits-all, especially when it comes to students with special needs. Tailored educational approaches are essential for addressing the unique challenges and abilities of each student. This blog post explores how personalized education can significantly enhance learning outcomes for students with special needs.

Personalization in Special Education: Personalized education considers the individual learning styles, interests, and needs of students. For special needs students, this could mean adapting teaching methods, modifying the classroom environment, or incorporating technology that supports learning. By focusing on the individual, schools like Chapel Hill Academy ensure that all students have the best possible conditions for learning and growth.

Benefits of Tailored Education:

1. Enhanced Engagement: Students are more engaged when learning activities are tailored to their interests and abilities.

2. Improved Understanding: Customized strategies can help students grasp concepts more effectively and retain information longer.

3. Increased Confidence: Success in learning builds self-esteem and motivation, which are critical for students with special needs.

4. Better Behavioral Outcomes: When educational content and delivery are aligned with a studentā€™s needs, behavioral issues often decrease.

Implementing Tailored Education: Implementing a tailored educational approach requires a commitment to understanding each studentā€™s needs and the flexibility to adjust teaching methods. It involves continuous assessment and collaboration among teachers, parents, and specialists. Technologies like adaptive learning software and interactive learning aids can also play a crucial role. Tailored education is a cornerstone of effective teaching for special needs students, fostering an environment where all students can succeed.

At Chapel Hill Academy, we provide each student with the personalized support they need to thrive. Join us in embracing the benefits of tailored education to transform learning experiences and outcomes for students with special needs. To learn more about how personalized educational approaches can make a difference, contact Chapel Hill Academy today. Let’s work together to create a brighter future for every student.

Lisa Bell, BA, RN, NCSN, School Nurse at Chapel Hill Academy works one-on-one with a student at the school.

Chapel Hill Academyā€™s Lisa Bell, RN Honored by NAPSEC

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Jersey School Professional Earns National Accolades for Work During Pandemic

 

Lisa Bell, BA, RN, NCSN, School Nurse at Chapel Hill Academy works one-on-one with a student at the school. Download high resolution image.

Chapel Hill Academyā€™s Lisa Bell, RN Honored by NAPSEC

Lincoln Park, NJ – Lisa Bell, BA, RN, NCSN, has been recognized by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC) for her pioneering work in school nursing throughout the pandemic.

Bell, a certified school nurse with over 40 years of nursing experience, is the school nurse at Chapel Hill Academy in Lincoln Park, NJ, a state-approved private special education school. She was recognized by NAPSEC for her work organizing school nurses to develop policy and protocols to support students with complex disabilities as they returned to school during the pandemic.

In the winter of 2020, Bell organized a small group of school nurses working at state approved private special education schools to start planning how to get students with disabilities back into schools safely. There were special considerations based on the needs of the student population, from medically-fragile students, to those with autism and psychiatric disabilities.

ā€œAt that point, no one thought it would be months, let alone years, before we found a new ā€˜normal.ā€™ We just knew our students needed to get back to school as soon as possible, not just for the academics, but for the social and therapeutic components as well,ā€ said Bell.

Throughout the pandemic, school nurses became policy leaders and interpreters of ever changing local, state and federal guidance. Through frequent virtual meetings ā€“ sometimes three times a week ā€“ the school nurses group grew to more than 100 nurses. Together, they shared challenges, solved problems, helped create policies, processes, and re-entry plans, and coordinated efforts to secure PPE, which was often in short supply in the early days of the pandemic.

ā€œWe supported each other every step of the way,ā€ concluded Bell.

Chapel Hill Academy and a small handful of other state-approved private special educations schools were approved by the State to open for educational services in July, making them the first schools in New Jersey to re-open.

NAPSEC honored Bell with its ā€œRelated Services Provider of the Yearā€ Award for 2021. A resident of Lincoln Park, Bell studied nursing at Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing and Caldwell University. She is a Certified School Nurse in the State of NJ and a Nationally Certified School Nurse. She is a member of the National Association of School Nurses and the New Jersey State School Nurses Association.

ā€œI am honored and humbled to be recognized by NAPSEC for this national award,ā€ said Bell. ā€œI was just doing what needed to be done.ā€

Chapel Hill Academy, a member of ASAH, is a New Jersey approved private school for students with learning, social, emotional, and behavioral disabilities in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Students are placed by the local school district and attend at no cost to parents. To learn more, go to https://chapelhillacademy.net/

CHA Students Present at Statewide Leadership Conference

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Each year in the spring, the New Jersey Department of Special Education sponsors several leadership conferences that are held at different colleges and universities in the state. The main purpose is to promote peers helping peers, as well as believing in yourself – ā€œDare to Dreamā€.

Students from Chapel Hill Academy have had the privilege and honor of participating in different capacities for the last seven years. This past spring our eleventh-grade students had the added honor of presenting a breakout session to other students from around the state.

The topic we presented at William Paterson University was ā€œSelf-discovery.ā€ Self-discovery helps students develop confidence and lays the foundation for life. In our breakout session we focused on what makes each of us unique and how extra-curricular activities help us in this process. Our students utilized the Naviance Guidance ProgramĀ® and Roadtrip NationĀ® to help facilitate activities and discussions.

ā€œIt was a wonderful experience for our students because their involvement helped them discover the confidence and abilities within themselves to create an activity where they got to help others and speak publicly in front of a large group,ā€ said Karen Staats-Bald, MA, LRC, Transition Counselor.

CHA students with teacher in classroom

2019-20 First Marking Period Progress

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It has only been 60 days since our students celebrated the first day of school, and look how much they have already accomplished:

  • Learned about the life cycle of a pumpkin & then got to pick our own!
  • Conducted a cloud experiment using shaving cream and food coloring.
  • Learned how to add and subtract three digit numbers.
  • Read Judy Blumeā€™s 1971 classic Freckle Juice about a 2nd grader who wants to have freckles.
  • Learned about the different communities we live in.
  • Became detectives and solved a literacy mystery.
  • Achieved behavioral goals and began working on new ones.
Diane Somers receiving ASAH President's Award from ASAH President Dr. Steve Morse

Diane Somers Recognized for Leadership

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Diane Somers, Director of Chapel Hill Academy, has been recognized by ASAH, a statewide membership association comprised of more than 130 specialized schools. In November, she received the 2019 ASAH Presidentā€™s Award for her leadership and vision.

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