Gratitude
November 26, 2021
As I was reading Ms. Patty’s blog post on gratitude, I couldn’t help but reflect on what it is that I am grateful for. I think this is especially important when life is as complicated as it is at the moment.
I know I have written about this before but I am very grateful that I got to read The Odyssey to our students last quarter. We are still thinking about the ideas in The Odyssey but this quarter we are reading different stories each week from different cultures.
This week we read ‘The Most Beautiful Thing’ about author Kao Kalia Yang’s experiences as a Hmong refugee and her special relationship with her grandmother. After watching a video that answers the question ‘Does Your Body Really Refresh Itself Every 7 Years?,’ we wondered if we were the same person even if our body has completely changed.
As always, I was impressed by the depth and originality of our students’ thinking. Here are some examples:
- I am still the same person because I have special memories and people have special memories of me.
- My body is a shell that wraps around my personality.
- I am still the same person but I evolve (which is different to change) when I get older.
- I have new ideas but I remember my old ideas so I am the same person.
Our students strongly agreed that we are the same person even if our bodies change. We then thought deeper about what it is that makes us who we are.
This morning, a student said that our character makes us who we are and another student said that our experiences make us who we are. We thought of combining these ideas like an equation: character + experience = me.
As I think about it now, this is a really powerful reminder. We might not be able to control all of the experiences that make us who we are. However, we can always focus on our character to make sure who we are is the best that we can be.
In this complicated time I am very grateful for the uncomplicated wisdom of our students.
Elementary School Spirit Week
COUNSELOR’S CORNER with Ms. Patty:
Gratitude
This week in the United States, many families will celebrate Thanksgiving. Although this an American holiday, the idea of giving thanks or expressing gratitude is common across many cultures. Research has shown that an attitude of gratitude has been proven to improve one’s general well-being, increase resilience, reduce stress and strengthen social relationships. Here are a few simple ideas to heighten your gratitude awareness.
- Start a gratitude jar. Reflect each day, looking for 1 or 2 moments of gratitude. Write these on a small piece of paper and slip it into a jar. Watch how quickly the jar fills. This daily reflection can also be done in a journal.
- Regularly write thank you notes. Send a short note of thanks to those that have helped or supported you. Service providers, friends, colleagues, relatives all play roles in our lives, without their support, where would you be?
- Mindfulness allows us to be present and aware of our surroundings. Often our busy lives prevent us from stopping and savoring the good. Regular practice of mindfulness can slow the world and allow us space to enjoy the positive.
- Acts of Kindness are simple gestures that not only brighten others’ day, they also help us acknowledge that we are in a position to help. So open a door for someone, buy a coffee for a stranger or donate to a local charity. You will be surprised how giving can help you see your own blessings.
Although American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday in November, every day is an opportunity to enhance our attitude of gratitude. How might you develop your attitude?
Ms. Patty is available to support all ISY families. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at escounselor@isyedu.org.
Patty Amundson-Geisel
Pre-K to Grade 6 Counselor
Internet Issues
Offline Learning Activities
Every Friday, your child’s homeroom teacher will email you a PDF of offline learning activities that your child will be able to do if they lose access to the internet.
Please only use these plans if your child is unable to access the internet. If you have the internet, your child will be able to attend online classes as usual.
To make sure the offline learning activities stay connected to what is happening in class, our teachers will review and, if necessary, update the offline learning activities each week. Please download the PDF document attached to the email as soon as you receive it on Friday. The email will also have a link to this instructional video:
Elementary School Blog – September 11, 2020
At the end of our second week of the academic year, we feel that our students are getting into the swing of things online.
Elementary School Blog – September 4, 2020
It feels good to have finished our first week online. There is a real positive energy around campus. That energy comes through online from our students and our teachers are building on that as they implement our planning and adapt it to meet our students needs and keep them engaged.
Elementary School Blog – August 28, 2020
In our compassionate community, children, parents and teachers are able to receive and provide feedback and advice from each other knowing that the feedback and advice is given with the positive intention of helping each other.
Elementary School Blog – August 21, 2020
Mr. Simpson asks the questions; ‘What do we need to do? Why do we need to do it? How can we do it?
Elementary School Blog – August 14th, 2020
Read about the new Elementary School Principal, Mr. Simpson’s philosophy of education.
Elementary School Blog – June 10th, 2020
The last day of the school year is here, it certainly has been an interesting few months. I would like to thank you all for your support during virtual learning.
The International School Yangon
20 Shwe Taungyar Street
Bahan Township
Yangon, Myanmar
+95 (0) 9 880 441 040