Wellness Wednesday

Resources and Information from WHS Counselors

April 22, 2020

Today is Earth Day and this week is National Park Week. As we digest the news that school will remain closed for the remainder of the year, it is natural to have a mix of emotions. All of those emotions are OK. How we manage those emotions and take care of ourselves is so important on any day, but today, even more. Many researchers and mental health professionals suggest that interacting with nature can have a positive impact on our mood and overall well-being. The calming sights and sounds have been found to lower stress and reduce worry. In honor of Earth Day and National Park Week, we've compiled some opportunities for you to experience nature from your couch or lawn chair.

Be well, stay safe, and remember we are available to connect with you,

WHS Counselors

This Week's Link to the Optional Survey Form

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Visit Finnish Forests

Take a tour of Finnish forests with this virtual experience recommended by Teddy. "It is a relaxing escape and the sound production is amazing with headphones. There is a ton of naturalist information of flora and fauna too."

Photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash

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Check out our National Parks

Check out Google Arts and Culture for 360 views of some of our most famous national parks.

Photo by Ms. Eaton

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Walk on the Beach

Take a walk on a beach through this 10 minute guided meditation.

Photo by Ms. Eaton

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Channel Islands Webcam

Check out what is happening under the sea with the Channel Islands National Park Webcam.

Photo by Cristian Palmer on Unsplash

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Visit with bears in Alaska

See whether bears are social distancing in Katmai National Park through their 9 webcams.

Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

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Listen to Nature

Enjoy the sounds of rain as you study, sleep, or relax. If you haven't checked out the Calm app, that's OK! You can access a lot of content from their YouTube channel for calming sounds, 10-minute meditations, and more.

Photo by Gabriele Diwald on Unsplash

Guidance Office Hours

Guidance Counselors will continue hosting office hours weekly. You'll receive an email on Sunday night with the Zoom information. Remember, we'll use the Waiting Room feature, so you may need to wait a little bit before we are able to chat. If you want to schedule a longer meeting, just email us! Here are office hours for next week (week of April 27):

Dr. Baker: Tuesday, 1:00PM-2:00PM and Wednesday, 4:00PM-5:00PM

Ms. Eaton: Wednesday, 3:30PM-4:30PM and Thursday, 9:30AM-10:30AM

Ms. Orpen: Monday, 2:00PM-3:00PM and Tuesday, 3:30PM-4:30PM

Ms. Leonard: Tuesday and Thursday, 11:30AM-12:30PM

Ms. Osborne: Monday and Tuesday, 3:00PM-4:00PM

Other Resources

The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth has a number of resources, including occasional virtual hangouts for students, access to resources, and information on ongoing groups. Additionally, this Friday students around the country will take part in the National Day of Silence.

The School Nutrition Department is distributing breakfast and lunch on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:00-1:00. During these hours, meals for two days are supplied to any WPS family who can benefit from this service. If you are not able to pick up meals at these times, please send an email to lunch_line@watertown.k12.ma.us.