Happy December

Our school’s theme this month is Altruism and Gratitude, which feels fitting for this time of year. There is a deep connection between these concepts, but perhaps it’s best to start with simple definitions first. As John Bradley suggests, “gratitude refers to the practice of acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of our lives, while altruism encompasses selfless acts of kindness and concern for others.” From gratitude grows altruism, and from altruism grows gratitude.

When practiced, gratitude and altruism foster compassion, kindness, perspective, and authentic care for others. It allows communities to flourish with an outward mindset of care and concern for the well-being of others. Beyond this clear benefit, practicing gratitude and altruism positively changes our brains! It’s a win-win. However, like with most things, we need to practice these skills so that they become an integral part of our day.

How can we, as families, grow in gratitude and altruism? Here are some thoughts:

• When debriefing the day, try not to focus on just the negative things that have happened. Certainly, we want to share and validate our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Still, we also want to take time to acknowledge the good stuff. No matter how small.
• Here are some prompts to get the conversation going: https://dayoneapp.com/blog/gratitude-journaling-prompts/
• Start a family gratitude jar. Encourage family members to add to it daily, and do something fun together when it is full.
• Gratitude alphabet. Sit with your family and share things you are grateful for, starting with the letter a, then b, then c, etc. Can you think of something for each letter of the alphabet?
• Watch for opportunities to give a sincere thank you to others.
• Look for small but meaningful ways to brighten someone’s day. Slow down and take time to notice those around you.
• Send a thank you text or email to someone who may need to hear it.
• When you are feeling frustrated with others or situations, stop, take a breath, and put it all into perspective. How much will this matter in an hour, a day, a month, or a year? Going even further, find something you are grateful for in that very moment and focus on that instead.
• Altruist endeavours. This relates to last month’s theme of Agency and Advocacy. What does your family value? What is important to them? What issues are they passionate about? What ‘ruffles their feathers,’ so to speak? Can you turn these values into an altruistic endeavour? This year, I started volunteering for AARCS. While I did it to help animals, it fills my bucket and gives me joy. It is also one of the few places I can truly be mindful. Here are many other opportunities:
  • https://www.calgary.ca/volunteer/home.html?redirect=/volunteer
  • https://www.volunteerconnector.org/
  • https://www.calgaryfoodbank.com/volunteer/
  • https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/orgs.jsp?aff=&includeOnGoing=true&r=20.0&l=50+Ave+SE%2C+Calgary%2C+AB%2C+Canada
  • If you are part of a spiritual community, contact them and see if there are volunteer opportunities there.
  • If time is an issue, can you donate clothing, used goods, or money to a reputable organization?
  • I have been wanting to create Blessing Bags/Kindness Kits/Care Packages for those who are experiencing homelessness. Here are some ideas on how to do that: https://calgarydropin.ca/kindnesskits/

Wellness Updates

Grades K–9

Grades K–9 students have been developing self-management skills through mindfulness activities that engage their five senses, helping them pause, reset, and optimize their learning.

If you have questions about wellness programming in Grades K–9, please reach out to Dylan Dean at ddean@calgaryacademy.com.

Grades 10–12

Over the past two months, students in Grades 10–12 have been exploring gratitude and taking ownership of their learning profiles as part of their wellness classes, enhancing their self-awareness.

If you have questions about wellness programming in Grades 10–12, please contact me at sbraun@calgaryacademy.com.

Counselling Services and Wraparound Support

We continue to have a counsellor supporting the needs of our learners in K–8. If you want to have your child connect with her, please reach out to Jenny at jduffield@calgaryacademy.com.

I am here to support the needs of our Grades 9–12 students. If you want your child to connect with me, please reach out to sbraun@calgaryacademy.com.

Lastly, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning journey, you can also reach out to our Director of Learning, Erin Ellis, at eellis@calgaryacademy.com.

Have a wonderful winter break and find ways to be grateful this season! And if this season is hard for your family, find ways to connect with each other, and lean on those who love and support you.