Giving thanks
As we head into this holiday season we traditionally take this time to give thanks for the things that are important to us. Did you know that there is a huge body of research that supports the health benefits of being thankful or showing gratitude? Research shows that people who practice gratitude have fewer symptoms of depression, lower levels of stress and anxiety, better sleep, better relationships, improved self-esteem, and have better memory and ability to attend. I don't know about you but I know that I could use more of all of the things on that list!
When you think about it, the research actually makes sense. When we focus on what we have that we are thankful for it takes our eyes, and thoughts, off of the things we don't have that we wish we had. I know we all come from different circumstances but the truth of the matter is that no matter what your circumstance you have things to be thankful for. According to World Bank the international poverty line is $6.85/day. That works out to $212.35/Month in a 31 day month. Do you have an income source that provides you more than $212.35 per month? If so, you live above the international poverty line and have something to be thankful for. Do you have cloths and shoes to wear, a bed to sleep on, and a roof over your head? If so, you have something to be thankful for. If you are receiving this newsletter you are engaged in a free and appropriate public education which is not present in many countries, especially for traditionally marginalized groups such as women, minority groups, and those with disabilities.
While we may not always see eye to eye on things, the truth of the matter is that we have much to be thankful for. My hope for you is that you can find things to be thankful for this season. When the days are short and the nights are long, when the weather is cold and gray, when it seems like Winter will never end, and when it seems like the work of sustaining our basic needs is more than we can handle we do have things to be thankful for. From the staff at MWHS we want to wish you all gratitude this season and all of the health benefits that go along with it.
Kids These Days
I know I've taken a week off of the "Kids These Days" segment but it's time to get back to it. It has been fun to see all of the college and career readiness opportunities that our juniors and seniors have been able to engage in this year. This week's "Kids These Days" subject is one of our seniors who has really turned it on this year. They have embraced being a senior and all of the future planning that goes along with it. I got the chance to speak with them last week and hear the excitement in their voice when they said "I got accepted to Corbin University and I got a (I don't remember the exact amount they said but it was north of $10,000/year) scholarship.
I love these stories! The reason this one is special is that this person is the oldest in their family. There are multiple younger siblings who are watching them take this amazing step. Even more, this family is headed by a single mother who works over night to provide for her family. I know for a fact that this mother is passionate about her kids and cannot imagine how proud she is.
In the Mary Walker School District we have made a collective commitment to produce confident, well rounded, and sought after graduates who are prepared for their future. We call this the Mary Walker Promise. This is just another example of one of our students who is ready for what is next and now has the pathway to move successfully in that direction; an example of the Mary Walker Promise kept. If you know them you know how big an accomplishment this is. Hats off to this weeks subject of "Kids These Days". I look forward to sharing more stories as they year goes on. Go Chargers!
Counseling Center
Nurses Corner
Cleaning and disinfecting are part of a broad approach to preventing infectious diseases in schools, work and at home. To help slow the spread of influenza (flu)and respiratory viruses, the first line of defense is getting vaccinated. Other measures include staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often.
Clearning and disinfecting are part of a board approach to preventing infectious diseases in schools, work, and at home. To help slow the spread of the flu and other respiratory viruses, the first line of defense is getting vaccinated. Other measures inlcude staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often. It also helps to know the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing.
Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.
There are also several Care-A-Van events coming to our area as well. Care-s-Van is a mobile health clinic that serves people across Washington state. Based on availability, the following vaccines will be offered at events:
- 2024-25 Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 (for ages 6 months and up)
- Flu vaccine (for ages 6 months and up)
- Mpox vaccine (ages 18 years and up)
- Childhood vaccinations (ages 6 months to 18 years)
- Blood pressure screenings (ages 3 years and up)
- Blood glucose screenings (ages 10 years and up)
- November 14 | 10am - 2:30pm | Newport Clinic (605 Hwy 20) To schedule, call (509) 684-2262, Option 1
- November 5, 19 & 21 | 9am - 3:30pm | Colville Clinic (240 E Dominion Ave) Toschedule, call (509) 684-2262, Option 1
Health District, please visit the NETCHD website by clicking the red button below!
Staff Development
Staff had their LID (Learning Improvement Day) on Friday and it was a great day of work. We spent the morning hearing from Justin from the poison control center about the increasing frequency of opioid overdoses and were trained on how, and when, to use Narcan. It was a great time of learning and helps our school be more safe for all staff and students.
The rest of the morning was spent working on PLC work where we are pursuing a school wide goal of knowing where each student is at on each of our essential standards in our core classes by the end of the school year. Staff also completed their student growth goals and their professional development plans so we can track those for the remainder of the school year.
The afternoon was spent with Tamie Schrader who is a leading trainer in AI technology. We sent three staff members to a three day AI conference in October where Tammie was a presenter. It was a great time for Tammie, and our staff that attended the conference, to pass their learning on to other staff who we not able to attend. Staff did some learning, were given resources, and then were given time to develop their skills in order to be able to more effectively use AI in their lesson planning and in their instruction. The main take away was a reminder that AI is, above all else, guided by human inquiry on the front end and vetted by human reflection on the back end. The quote from Tammie that jumped out to me the most was this: "AI is not going to take people's jobs but someone who understands AI probably will if you don't understand AI". One thing I appreciate the most about our staff is that they are constantly learning and growing. This is just another way for us to enhance our practice and to continue to lead the way in elevating the education our students get when they attend MWHS.
Science Class
Ms. Benzo and her Physical Science classes are working on Newton's Laws of motion. They have been given a challenge! The job is to guide a marble to the bottom of the sculpture in the slowest way possible in order to show an understanding of friction, inertia, and motion. Jonas and Johnny are talking through different ways to slow down their marble without it coming to a complete stop. We'll find out whose is best this coming week.
Class competitions!
After 2 full weeks of competition we still have a tight race but the juniors are still out front with 290 points. The sophomores are in second with 220, the seniors are in third, and the freshmen are in last with 190 points. Every class is within shouting distance with the short week to come. Remember attendance, tardies, discipline referrals, grades, minute to win it, and spirit wear are all part of the competition. We look forward to finishing November strong on Monday and Tuesday and the winning class will get a donut party the Monday we get back from Thanksgiving break. Challenge your students to be in school every day, to be on time, to do their best in classes, and to be positive members of our learning community so that their class can take home the class competition cup. Last week's minute to win it game was to put as many post it notes on their partner as possible. All of the groups gave a great effort and the sophomores, represented by Zadin and Z'andre, came away with the win,
Boys Basketball
Boys basketball is off and running. The team is young but they are working hard and are excited for the season. While we've lost some size over the last two years, this group is going to grow up and be competitive quickly and we are excited to see how they develop as the season goes on.
Wrestling
Mary Walker High School
Email: ccannon@marywalker.org
Website: www.marywalker.org
Location: 500 N 4th St, Springdale, WA, USA
Phone: 509-258-4534
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryWalkerSD/