Читать книгу If You Don't Feed the Students, They Starve - Neila A. Connors - Страница 16

An organization that promotes “wellness” recognizes the utmost importance of taking care of people in body, mind, and spirit. Wellness is showing up and being in the moment. Wellness initiatives are evident in all healthy organizations, but especially schools. Five-star restaurants provide for their employees and customers wellness by serving high-quality food in a fine setting. Five-star schools emphasize to students, teachers, parents, and the community the importance of taking care of oneself and each other. A healthy school is a happy school, creating an emphasis on wellness of all.

Wellness encompasses the staff as well as the students. Schoolwide wellness matters are addressed regularly because they augment learning and life. In a climate where staff wellness is imperative:

 Less absenteeism occurs.

 Productivity increases.

 Morale increases.

 Future employees want to work there.

 The school's image is positive in the community.

 There is less turnover.

 Healthy behaviors are modeled.

 Adults are healthy role models for students.

 Adults enjoy each other, students, and their profession.

 Ongoing health screenings are available.

 Professional development is crucial and ongoing.

 The district personnel applaud and support school wellness initiatives.

In a environment of where student wellness is imperative:

 Students learn to make healthy choices.

 Health and physical education classes are viewed as a vitally important component of the school curriculum.

 Counseling services are available for students who deal with health problems.

 Every student has an adult/mentor in the school who is an advocate and coach.

 Life skills classes teach students how to live a healthy and productive life.

 Adults recognize that health and success are related.

 The loss of physical education or fine arts classes is never used as a disciplinary consequence.

 The school lunch program initiates and supports healthy dining and includes a breakfast program for students who may not receive breakfast at home.

 “Shake breaks” or recess are a part of the school activities.

 Students are encouraged to bring healthy snacks and food to school.

 Healthy living styles are modeled and discussed through the entire year.

 Students participate in community service projects to further healthy living.

 The promotion of wellness extends into the homes and community.

 Sound fitness programs are available for all via intramurals and physical education.

 Every student is encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities (sports, music, drama, clubs).

 The dining area supports cleanliness and a healthy, pleasant atmosphere.

A fine dining experience includes “positiveness,” where everyone from the maître d to the servers to the busboys have a positive attitude about what they do. Positiveness must also exist in a FSS. We all know that the foundation to being positive is attitude. A positive attitude is the most important quality adults must possess to F.E.E.D. students so they don't S.T.A.R.V.E. (Stop Trying And Reject Valuable Education). Students know the adults who love being at the school and those who do not. Life is a choice, and every one of us chooses our attitude every day. When adults elect to work in schools with students they must make that choice because they like students, they believe they can make a difference, and they will do whatever it takes to help students achieve; consistency.

The longer I live, the more I realize the effect of attitude on life. Attitude is more important than the past, education, money, circumstances, than failures or successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more critical than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a school, company, church, or home. The significant attribute is that we have a choice each day to choose our attitude and hug and embrace it for the day. We can't change the past or the fact that people act a certain way. We can't change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have left, and that is our attitude. Life is 10% of what happens and 90% of how we react. It is crucial to accept that we are in charge of our own attitudes and how we deal with every situation.

The following chart on attitude outlines our chances of success: