Junior High SEL & Wellness

Let's imagine you're feeling low and want to use this RAIN approach to help you cope.

1. Recognize - Say in your mind 'I'm feeling sad...I'm aware of a low mood right now'. By labeling the

emotion, you immediately begin to feel a bit more in control.

2. Accept - Say to yourself 'I allow this emotion of sadness to just be here' together with a feeling of

acceptance or allowing. You don't fight the sadness or deny its existence. By doing this, you stop

fighting the reality of the situation and see the sadness for what it is.

3. Investigate - Ask yourself 'where do I feel this sadness is my body exactly?' 'Am I accepting my

sadness or trying to get rid of it all the time?' Ask any question you like - but avoid why questions

because that just ends up looking to blame yourself or others. Investigate instead.

4. Non-Identify - See the sadness as separate from your core being. See the feeling as an experience that arises and goes away. By observing the sadness, notice there's 'you' and 'your sadness' and you can shift your attitude towards the sadness.

Spring Break is typically scheduled around the middle or end of the month of March so that students can get a bit of reprieve from hectic school responsibilities before exams and the last half of the school year. Spring break is often idealized as being a week of nonstop fun and traveling, and while it can be those things, spring break actually does have a ton of other mental and physical health benefits, too. There have been discussions among different schools in the country about whether or not spring break is a good idea given the current times we are facing, but the overall response has been in definitive favor of keeping the vacation around.

Allows for Mental Decompression

Spring break has shown to be highly beneficial to student’s mental health because this week of vacation allows for a much-needed mental decompression from demanding school-related responsibilities. Students commonly do not receive enough credit when it comes to all of their various responsibilities, since so many are managing to balance six or more classes, extracurricular activities, and social lives.

Good for Physical Health

Not only has spring break proven to be fantastic for the mental health state, but it is undoubtedly beneficial for an individual's physical health, too. When the mental state is in the right place, then the physical body also reaps all of the incredible rewards. Stress and anxiety can reduce during this time, which we certainly know by now is massively favorable to the overall health of an individual.

Traveling is Good for the Mind, Body, and Soul

Traveling is so wonderful for the mind, body, and soul because it allows us to go have new and exciting experiences and to break out of the often-mundane day-to-day norm. Traveling of any extent is able to provide such a great reset, and students that work so hard each and every day in school truly deserve this reset. They will be more likely to come back and finish the year off on a strong foot after having the chance to go and spend some time in a different environment.

Below are some other ideas to do during Spring Break to relax and decompress.

TCHATT (Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine) provides telemedicine or telehealth programs to children within Cuero ISD. TCHATT also helps to identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services. Cuero ISD is proud to be part of this program that helps students get access to mental health treatment and resources.

Ruby Rodriguez, M.Ed. ~ Director of Special Programs

Courtney Schacherl, M.S., LPC ~ Junior High School Climate Specialist

Lacy Timpone, M.Ed., LPC ~ High School School Climate Specialist

Kathy F. Scott, LMSW ~ Elementary School Climate Specialist

960 East Broadway Street, Cuero, TX, USA

(361)275-1900