Social-Emotional
I noticed that many teens were stressed out by the school workload and expectations. I wondered, “What if I could create a school that could be challenging without being stressful?”
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As parents, we mistakenly think that if we leave our child unsupervised on their iPad, phone, or computer, they’re safe, but don’t trust them to play outside on their own.
The rub is that parents drastically overestimate the risk to their children when they’re outside unsupervised and don’t understand the benefits.
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By: Karyn Ewart | Head of School & Founder At a morning meeting, I posed this question to our high school students: What do they wish adults knew? What is important to them? I explained that this was their opportunity to have their voices heard and that I would try to capture their words and their experiences. Here it goes… Some responses were funny and telling. “Online multiplayer games cannot be paused.“ “Don’t look over a kid’s shoulder to see their phone or computer screen; it’s not stealth…it’s annoying.“ “When we’re already running late, don’t take 10 minutes to load your audiobook.“ “Don’t surpass the deadlines you set – If you say, be ready by 6, YOU need to be ready by six. Parents often say, I’ll be 30 seconds, but it’s actually 10 minutes.“ “Don’t ask your child to drive places on their own that require parallel parking when…
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Many of us are grappling with a sense of unease. The question that keeps rising to the surface is: how best to protect ourselves and our children?
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Here at TSS, we do physical fitness differently. Our students take a Movement and Mindfulness (“M&M”) class designed to help students find ways to move their body that they enjoy. They also learn about the foundations of mindfulness to build resilience.
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I’ve worked with individuals who have autism (ASD) for over 30 years. In that time, there has been a shift in our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. No two individuals with autism are the same, and every child should be understood keeping their unique strengths and struggles in mind. However, we can see common traits that allow us to view them through a particular lens. That lens helps us understand their strengths and better support their challenges. I’m seeing more and more students who are not formally diagnosed with autism but have features consistent with the diagnosis. Many bright children struggle with social interactions and are exhausted by the demands of school. They come home spent and often take it out on their parents. I’ve met countless parents struggling to best support their children. There is a newly identified phenomenon called autistic burnout, when an individual on the autism…
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Everyone knows the classic game “Rock, Paper, Scissors” used by kids to break a tie or resolve an impasse. Did you know it could be a full-court team sport that draws out the inner athlete in students and teaches them teamwork simultaneously? Recently, students ventured to a nearby Rosslyn playground court for the big RPS middle school team building challenge. Two randomly chosen teams lined up on the baselines; then, one player from each team had to walk (not run!) down the sideline to the centerline, where the first two players had an instant RPS game. The winner moves forward to meet the next player from the opposing team, speed walking down the sideline while the winner advances. If the winner wins again, they keep moving to the enemy baseline. Defeating every opponent in the way yields one point. Capturing the enemy line took 4-5 wins, so the competition was…
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A new school year is always full of excitement and possibility, but it can also bring with it some fear and anxiety. Whether you are a student, parent, or teacher, the beginning of a new school year brings a unique sense of anticipation. This can be especially true for students starting in a new school or a new grade. What are the teachers going to be like? Will the other kids be friends with me? These are questions students might be asking themselves. As parents, we know you want your child to be happy and successful. Let’s explore six tips to start the new school year strong for parents and students. 1. Embrace Change Every new school year is a chance to start over. You can think of a new school year as a fresh start, a time to embrace the “what-ifs” and potential for growth. Though new beginnings can be…
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Every student should feel safe and free to be their authentic selves. This founding principle has guided TSS since our inception. Recent legislation has questioned this basic human right for LGBTQ+ youth in Virginia. But there are many ways a school can support LGBTQ+ students in the face of these changes. I first want to assure all the members of our TSS community that we will not comply with Governor Youngkin’s updated guidelines for transgender and nonbinary students. These restrictions compromise the safety and integrity of our school community. I’d also like to illustrate the ways TSS strives to be inclusive and help all our students feel safe, seen, and heard by creating a sense of belonging, connectedness, support, and empowerment for each and every one of our students. Here are six actions schools can take to support LGBTQ+ youth in Virginia. Below each suggestion, we describe how TSS implements these…
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I’ve always thought of time in the context of school: that the beginning of the year starts in September and ends in August. I’m often puzzled when people speak about the end of the year in December, celebrating New Year’s Eve, and making resolutions reserved only for the new calendar year. For me, that time of reflection is in the summer. Summer is the treat we get after a long school year. It’s a time to reset. We can (hopefully) relax, connect with old friends, get around to reading that book that’s been sitting on our nightstand, and refinish that shelf that’s been in the garage for a while. Summer gives us a time to reflect and think about what we want to focus on and how we want the upcoming fall to go. Rosslyn Expansion This summer has been less about relaxing and more about prepping for the…
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The short days and less favorable weather of winter often have an adverse impact on our general mood. It is not uncommon for individuals — including children — to find it difficult to stay active and optimistic during the winter months. What is “Winter Blues” vs. Seasonal Affective Disorder (“SAD”) The “winter blues” describe the sadness and fatigue that many people experience during the winter. It may cause symptoms such as sluggishness, low interest in activities, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating. Is your child has more serious symptoms, such as feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of suicide. This could be SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, a condition that affects around 4% to 6% of people. This can cause depression in both men and women, especially during the winter months. It’s important to note the difference between SAD and the winter blues; SAD is a rare diagnosed condition, and more…
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The Sycamore School celebrated National Coming Out Day 2022 on Tuesday, October 11. Dr. Rachel’s Journalism class kicked off the idea when they decided they wanted to commemorate the 34th anniversary of this day. In collaboration with school counselor Mr. Tyler, they identified ways the school could honor this milestone and the LGBTQIA+ community. The Journalism class covered a bulletin board with resources for LGBTQIA+ students and created a banner with quotes from students about what National Coming Out Day means to them. Materials from GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network, supported robust classroom conversations. In our Morning Meeting on National Coming Out Day, students watched videos from the Human Rights Campaign that included stories of people from the LGBTQIA+ community and their coming out experiences. Students discussed the importance of these stories how we can make our community safer for all people to be themselves authentically. Some…
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