Did you know that this week last year was our last week in person? This edition is devoted to fatigue...it's been a memorable last year!

Tending to Compassion Fatigue

Once a term associated with first responders, compassion fatigue has become a concern among all those on the front line serving the needs of traumatized individuals—teachers and principals included. What is compassion fatigue? How do I recognize it, and what do I do in response?

What is compassion fatigue?

Compassion fatigue is the negative impact over time on caregivers (educators) who serve the needs of traumatized students (and staff). School staff hear many heart-wrenching stories of student experiences—oftentimes from the same student who has had multiple traumatic experiences in life.

How do I recognize it?

Symptoms can include a shift to a negative attitude, attributable to the feelings of frustration and hopelessness at the plight of some of these students of trauma; over-identification with those for whom one is caring; forsaking self-care in favor of care of others; and other symptoms of chronic stress like exhaustion, sleeplessness, low energy, and frequent colds and illness. Additionally, educators may be “burned out” and emotionally unavailable, not present. They may have a lower tolerance for frustration and an aversion to working with certain students, all of which pose a risk to their personal well-being and their job performance.

What do I do about it?

As with many problems, the first step toward addressing compassion fatigue, or fatigue in general, is an awareness of the stress and its impact. Once you recognize you or other staff may be suffering compassion fatigue, you can take strides to heal. This recognition may result from conversations you have with your team about how they are doing about how they’re handling the emotion associated with a particular student’s or students’ situation/s. Awareness is the key. You can still care for your students and your staff while re-directing some of your energy back toward yourself.

Strategies that help heal compassion fatigue include…

• regular exercise and/or movement

• healthy eating habits

• sufficient and restful sleep

• social activities with family and friends

• journaling

• getting out and experiencing nature

• healthy escapes and hobbies

• reflecting on purpose – what renews you and gives you hope

As leaders, we attend to the well-being of all those whom we serve; and to show up our best, we must first take care of ourselves. When we are healthy, resilient, and present, we are better able to see what our staff needs and help them to take care of themselves so that they can be healthy, resilient, and present for their students.

- SAI Mentoring Matters, December 2019

Friday 3/12 - No School

Monday 3/15 - No School

Wednesday 3/17 - MS Play Preview - 6th grade in morning; 5th grade in afternoon

Thursday 3/18 - MS Play Preview - 7th grade in morning; 8th grade in afternoon

(9:30AM & 1PM showtimes both days); MS Play Show #1 - 7PM @ Iowa Theater

Friday 3/19 - MS Play Show #2 - 7PM @ Iowa Theater

Down the Road...

Monday 3/22 - 2 Hour Delay

Wednesday 3/24 - End of 3rd Qtr