NEWS AND HAPPENINGS

This Week:

Thurs. April 13:
9:30 am Show Rehearsal @ Los Olivos Elementary
6 pm Spring Show @ Los Olivos Elementary School Gym
Friday, April 14 - 10:00 - 12:00: Grandparents/Special Persons Day. NOON DISMISSAL - NO AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Saturday, April 15, 1-4: Music fundraiser for TFS @ Standing Sun Winery. Stop into the office to buy your tickets! Kay has them.

Coming Up:

Saturday, April 29: 10-2 EINSTEIN DAY!!
You can always find the calendar on our website - HERE

Finger Foods for Grandparents/Special Persons Day: April 14th is our Grandparents/Special Persons Day! This is such a fun day for our students and families. We like to put out some nice, finger foods for our visitors. If you are willing and able to provide some, please email Ruth at the office: ruthk@syvfamilyschool.org THANK YOU!

Music Fundraiser for TFS:

Mindfulness from Christina

Self-Awareness-

“Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become habits. Watch your habits for they become character. Watch your character for they become your destiny.”

-Lao Tzu

In red & purple door, we discussed and ‘unpacked’ these ancient words of wisdom. Inherent in this message is the idea that we have the power to create our character and thereby affect our destiny. I said to students, “ How cool is it that you get to create you! You have all the power- it is your choice.” Then, I asked, “ How do you create your character and thereby your destiny?” Students quickly responded by watching your mind, speech, and actions and by understanding that one leads to the next. From here, we discussed the concept of ‘watching’- what does it mean to watch yourself-to observe yourself and why is this important to our well-being and to our future character? We are called to be scientists of ourselves. Scientists are keen observers of phenomenon. With a patient, curious, accepting, and non-judgemental mind, they use all their senses to observe phenomenon with the goal of truly understanding through seeing all aspects. When we develop the practice of watching ourselves with a curious, patient, non-judgmental mind, we develop self-awareness which is the necessary key in directing our lives. Recognition of both the positive and the not so positive in ourselves gives us the opportunity to make gentle changes. In every present moment, we are called to observe ourselves and make positive choices which overtime affects the course of our lives.

In our second mindfulness class, we discussed some mistaken habits that elementary, middle, high school and adults can be mislead into. All people have three needs that drive their behavior: the need for love, the need to belong, and the need to feel important. When children are young, they begin experimenting with how to get these needs met. Unfortunately, some children erroneously take on certain “habits”of behaving in their drive to have their needs met. Here are a few:

The Class Clown

Feels important & belonging when getting negative attention

The Winner

Only feels important if he/she wins

The Perfect One

Desires to do everything perfectly- fears not being loved/important if he/she makes mistakes

The Know It All

Believes they are important if they can prove they know more than everyone else

The Victim

Gets attention and feels important by always being hurt, sad, a victim

The Popular One

Needs everyone to like him/her.

While discussing these habits, I stressed how we can help our friends who may be falling into these habits. Finally, I explained that the great tragedy in developing these personas is that every person is born unique- special and important in this world. All of these qualities are our birthright, but when we are born we believe that we need to “get” them from the outside world. We should put our energy into uncovering our uniqueness and purpose instead of putting all of our energy into seeking importance and affirmation from others.