Season’s Greetings,
And what a season it has been! From the dog days of summer through the mellow months of autumn and now the crisp beginnings of winter, the students, faculty, and staff at New Vistas School have been busier than Santa’s elves. This school season began with some changes and new faces. As with any type of change, there is always a season of adjustment and getting to know one another. The NVS community worked through this adjustment both on campus and off with activities such as the NVS Awareness in Action Day, the Back to School Picnic, Grandparents’ Day, STEAM Night, Fall Festival, the Upper School Ring Dance, Serve-a-Thon, and the Lower School and Upper School Thanksgiving celebrations, as well as field trips to Poplar Forest, 4-H camp, Natural Bridge, Yoder’s Farm, Layman’s Farm, and the Maier Museum . In addition to these activities, students and faculty were hard at work in their classrooms reading, writing, and arithmetic-ing. The recent election provided plenty of opportunities for debate and consideration of each other’s ideas and opinions.
While this season has been filled with many fun and positive activities and opportunities and more to come with the holidays, it can also be a season in which anxiety and worry creep in and cast shadows around the bright and happy times. Changes in routine, both at home and at school, can be stressful to many children who depend on structure to help them feel safe and in control. Keeping home and school routines and expectations in place as much as possible is beneficial in minimizing the anxious feelings that can arise from being unsure of what’s coming next. For older students, worry over upcoming exams and end-of-semester projects can also contribute to increased levels of anxiety. Again, keeping routines in place as much as possible and providing quiet places for review and study and encouragement will assist in offsetting those anxious feelings and lower the pressure that so many bright, hard-working students put on themselves.
So, in the midst of this season of hustle and bustle, remember to take time to reflect on the past and the love and happiness and learning opportunities it held, but continue to be present in the precious moments of right now with family and friends. After all, tis the season to be jolly!
