From the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation:

"We are all doing our best. Whether that’s keeping up with work demands while at home, educating our kids while they are out of school, caring for others ‘virtually’ or simply taking care of more responsibilities while trying to create a ‘new normal’ in a time of uncertainty. You are doing a great job.

You’ve heard the word resilience, but maybe you’ve never really thought about what it means. Chris Peterson, one of the founders of Positive Psychology, said it best when he described resilience as the ability to ‘struggle well’. We are more apt to thrive when we embrace the life lessons in our challenges, examining with curiosity, the patterns in our struggles. We can cope...with hope.

This is a time to do a few things we normally don’t prioritize:

REFLECT
Use this time to reflect on what you’re doing well. It may not feel like you’re having many successes each day. You may feel lost or hopeless at times. But, if you spend some time each day reflecting on the small victories (completing a task for work or getting a load of laundry done) you’ll find that you’re making it work.

BE GRATEFUL
Aside from celebrating the small accomplishments, recognize things for which to be grateful. Do you have food in the refrigerator? Are you healthy? Can you connect with your family and friends via phone or computer? Did you smile at least once today?

COMMIT TO SELF-CARE
Self-care doesn’t mean you should take a bubble bath or get a massage. It means you should do the things that bring you joy and give you energy. Do you like to cook? Enjoy exercising? Play an instrument? You may find there is more time for you to focus on things you’re passionate about or start something new.

BE PRODUCTIVE
Even though you may not be accomplishing all the things on your ‘to do’ list, make sure you’re getting done what you can so you can feel a sense of purpose each day. Don’t push yourself (see the second point in self-care), but try to set realistic expectations of yourself.

GIVE GRACE
The main thing to keep in mind during all of this—give yourself a break. You are doing the best you can with the situation at hand and putting pressure on yourself to ‘do better’ can make challenging times even more difficult. And, make sure to give grace to those who may be having a hard time being productive while juggling various challenges of their own. Everyone manages stress differently. None of us know what the other person is going through, so be kind.

For more ideas on how to keep being an awesome person during Covid-19, visit us at www.randomactsofkindness.org."

Announcements will now be posted in the weekly template for kids to access. We hope you enjoy our new format. Additionally, I will continue to post to Bloomz for consistency. You can decide the platform that works best for you if you choose to watch them.

Over the next few weeks, I would love to see a picture and hear about the ways that students are continuing to spread Kindness to your family and the world around you. If you could take a picture of something your student has done or is doing with a short one to two sentences about it and send it to my email colem@urbandaleschools.com I will work on a special project for the end of the year! Thank you to those who have shared with me already! Keep them coming!

As we consider all of the changes and new routines we’re all adjusting to, the one thing that remains constant is our Urbandale community pride. This is why the Urbandale Education Foundation (UEF) has partnered with Plaza Printers to create yard signs that recognize our remarkable Urbandale High School Class of 2020, our dedicated teachers, and our resilient students. Yard signs will be available to proudly display during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4 – 8) and beyond!

Purchasing a sign will enable you to not only show your Urbandale spirit, but support the Urbandale Food Pantry and the Urbandale Education Foundation as a portion of every sign purchase will directly support both organizations ($4 will support the Urbandale Food Pantry; $4 will support the UEF). The Urbandale Food Pantry provides food assistance to those in need and the Urbandale Education Foundation provides student scholarships and classroom grants throughout the Urbandale Community School District. The Urbandale Alumni Association and Urbandale Dollars for Scholars are also part of the UEF.

Online ordering is available now through May 14. Signs ordered by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, may be picked up at the UHS parking lot on Sunday, May 3. We’ll follow physical distancing practices at the UHS parking lot by using a drive-thru process where signs will be brought to you in your car (more specifics to follow). Signs ordered between April 29 – May 14, may be picked up at Plaza Printers on May 21 (Note: Plaza has a drive-thru pick-up window for your convenience.). All orders must be placed by May 14.

Join us in honoring and supporting our senior class, our students, and our teachers by proudly displaying yard signs as a heartfelt reminder, just how very much, #WeSupportU!

Principal- Valerius Elementary

Email: colem@urbandaleschools.com
Website: www.urbandaleschools.com
Location: 3305 92nd St. Urbandale, IA 50322
Phone: 515-457-6501
Twitter: @MichelleACole