June 2009 1791 Letter - Berwick Academy

WELLNESS NEWS...cont. from pg.12
is like plastic and can be strengthened
through mental exercise. Our brains
are complex and have many areas and
functions, and without daily practice,
they can atrophy. With some summer
cognitive training, you can improve
specifi c cognitive processes, like
concentration, processing speed and
memory, and this can be generalized to
a broader range of skills. These days,
neuropsychologists don’t recommend
paper-based activities (like Sudoku
and crossword puzzles), but computerbased
brain exercise software programs,
since they can provide a variety of new
activities all the time, always tailored
with a proper increasing level of
challenge. When seeking out a brain
training program, use research-based
criteria to evaluate them. The Sharp
brains Checklist can help: http://www.
sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/16/
brain-training-games-and-games/
In the meantime, here are three quick
and easy mental exercises, taken from
the sharpbrains website, that everyone
should be doing every day (you can find
lots of neat brainteasers and puzzles
there too!):
- For stress management: a 5-minute
visualization, combining deep and
regular breathings with seeing in our
mind’s eye beautiful landscapes and/ or
remembering times in our past when we
have been successful at a tough task
- For short-term memory: try a series
subtracting 7 from 200 (200 193
186 179...), or a series involving
multiplication (2, 3 4, 6 6, 9 8, 12...)
or exponential series (2 4 8 16 32 64...)
the goal is not to be a math genius,
simply to train and improve our shortterm
memory. Another way is to try
and remember our friends’ telephone
numbers.
- In general: try something different
every day, no matter how little. Take
a different route to work. Talk to a
different colleague. Ask an unexpected
question. Remember to approach
every day as a living experiment and a
learning opportunity.
Linda Gill - School Nurse
Something to Think About Over the
Summer – GET YOUR MEDICAL
FORMS IN ON TIME!
All Berwick families should
have received a mailing from the nurse’s
offi ce in late May. Enclosed you should
have found a cover letter indicating
what forms I need from you for the
2009-10 school year. We are doing
things a little differently this year, so
that is why I was excited to write this
entry for the June 1791 Letter. ALL
MEDICAL FORMS ARE DUE ON
JULY 13, 2009.
Parents, please be aware of
the following: Upper School parents,
if your forms are not in, your child’s
course schedule will not be mailed out
to you in August. Middle and Lower
School parents, if your forms are not
in, your child may not attend the fi rst
day of school.
If you have misplaced the
information, please call and I will either
mail out copies or instruct you where
to fi nd them on the school portal.
We are asking all parents to
fi ll out an Emergency Permission Form
this year so we can appropriately update
your child’s emergency contacts,
as well as any medical or insurance
changes. Also, if your child is taking
medication during the school hours
(including overnight field trips) or
carries medication for allergies, I
must have a Physician’s School Order
for Medication signed by both the
physician and the parent for the 2009-
10 school year.
Parents, please remember it is
important for your child’s safety and
academic success that I have all of the
necessary medical information prior to
your child’s return to school next fall.
Again, if you have any questions please
contact my offi ce at extension 2204.
Cindy Briggs – School Counselor
Something to Think About Over the
Summer – STRETCH AND TRY
SOMETHING NEW!
I think summertime is a perfect
time to STRETCH and try something
new. Just think about it, all year the
Berwick Academy faculty have been
challenging your children, be it in the
Lower, Middle, or Upper Divisions.
These challenging may have been
learning to read and write for the first
time in kindergarten all the way to
mastering public speaking in the Upper
School. In Alice Cooper’s famous
anthem, “School’s Out for Summer,”
he proclaims the joys of summer “no
more pencils, no more books, no
more teacher’s dirty looks….” For
many kids, this truly is what summer
is all about. I also believe that summer
can be a great time to stretch and try
new things. This stretching may mean
having a successful overnight with a
friend, surviving your fi rst summer job,
surfi ng in the ocean or even sky diving.
Whatever it is, it is an opportunity for
your child to stretch and do something
new. Remember, even though “School’s
Out for Summer,” our kids don’t have
to stop growing. In fact, I might go so
far as to say that summer is one of the
best times for our kids to step out their
comfort zones and try something new!
Enjoy your summer!
Cindy Briggs
16 1791 Letter ~ June 2009