Have a BEARY good day on Monday!

We're reviewing the "Animal Friends" this week!  The goal is to be a "teddy bear friend."  A teddy bear friend is a good listener and dependable.

Disgust on Friday

You smell something stinky?  Taste something yucky?  Step in someone's bubble gum on a hot, summer day?  That's DISGUST!   Is it a PLEASANT or UNPLEASANT feeling?

Anger on Thursday

There are lots of flavors of "angry" -- annoyed, grumpy, frustrated, TEMPER TANTRUM!  When you are really angry, you are in your "upstairs" brain.  When you "flip your lid,"  you are not in your thinking or "downstairs" brain . . .  ALL Feelings are OKAY, but it's NOT OKAY to hurt someone or something or hurt yourself when you are mad.  OKAY ways to manage anger include:

(1) Breathe in and out slowly.
(2) Make a picture in your mind of that something that helps you relax.
(3) Use your body, like walk as fast as you can, to get your angry feelings out in an okay way.
(4) Draw a picture of your angry feelings.
(5) Play out your mad feelings with your toys.

When you are back in your thinking brain, use your words to share about the angry feeling.  You will begin to create an awareness of when your anger is on the move, and you'll be able to KNOW it before you SHOW it with practice.

Fear on Wednesday

 Fear is an UNPLEASANT feeling!  We don't LIKE to feel it but ALL feelings are OKAY, and sometimes we are scared.  There are things that are really, truly scary, that ANYBODY would be afraid of.  When you are scared, it's an opportunity to to be brave!  When you are scared, talk to someone!  Talking with someone helps you figure if your fear is maybe your imagination outta control?!  Deep breaths soothe the panic that comes with fear.  Folding your body like a "turtle" or a "mouse" helps too!

Joy on Tuesday

Joy is a PLEASANT feeling and when you feel it, you laugh and smile a lot.  But sometimes even pleasant feelings get TOO BIG!  You'll know because usually a grown up will let you know .  .  . maybe you're talking very fast and loud or not able to stop laughing?  Take a slow, deep breath to get to "regular happy."  Breathing helps you slow down and do you best!

ALL Feelings are OKAY!

We're focusing on feelings this week and how they are ALL okay!  We don't LIKE to feel the UNPLEASANT ones, but we must sometimes to feel better.  It's what you DO with an unpleasant feeling that can be tricky!  When you are sad, try talking to someone and share how you feel.  You can draw your sad feelings or use your toys to play your sad feelings.  You can do some exercise that moves your whole body.  You can think about things that make you happy and make pictures of them in your mind.  ALL Feelings are OKAY on Monday and EVERYDAY!

Flower Breath on Friday

Close your fingers into two fists.  Take a deep breath and open the fingers, palms up, like flower petals blooming! Exhale and close your fingers into two fists.  "Breathe and Bloom" three times to think more clearly and make your best choices.  It works other days of the week too!

What's the POINT?

It's the FOURTH day of school and what's the POINT?!  LEARNING and GROWING is what it's ALL about at PHES!  If you're a little weary this first full week of work, be a TREE.  When you pretend to be a tree, it helps reduce anxiety, a scattered mind or frenetic energy.  It also helps children feel stable in their bodies, steady in mind and balanced in mood and emotions.

Take a deep breath and stand tall.  Press the sole of one foot to the ankle/lower leg, keeping your toe on the floor as a "kickstand."  Your balancing leg is straight and strong, but don't lock your knee.  You can raise your "branches" high to help with balance.  Squeeze your tummy muscles if you wobble.  Breathe!  Try it on the other side.  It's helpful to find a focal point if it's difficult to balance.  

Looking forward to LEARNING and GROWING TOGETHER in 2015-16!

ALL Feelings are OKAY!

ALL Feelings are OKAY!  Some are PLEASANT and some are UNPLEASANT.  It's what you DO with a feeling that can be NOT OKAY .  .  . make a choice where no one gets hurt, nothing gets hurt, and you don't hurt yourself!

HOPPY 2nd Day of School!

Glad you came back for more fun!

Kick Off the Year with a Cheer!

Kick Off the Year with a Cheer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuPADyXc0rU

We welcomed 816 Cougars to our 2015-16 school year today!

Ready to G-R-O-W?

School starts tomorrow!  Are you ready to G-R-O-W?

Our PHES Family will be 10 years old, and we are SO EXCITED to welcome you to another school year!  I'll be there bright and early, with a BIG SMILE and a SILLY HAT.  See you soon!  Welcome Back, Cougars!