Nutrition
It's no surprise that during the Middle School years, students develop quickly and dramatically - their brains are developing at a fast rate, their emotions run from hot to cold in a matter of minutes, and their social and emotional lives can seem to change at the drop of a hat! One of the most important factors in all of this development - and in managing or mitigating the rough patches - is nutrition, and, noticing some trends among our students when it comes to nutrition during the school day, it's important to take note of healthful approaches to food.During First Semester, students completed a unit about nutrition in PHE classes. Much of that work focused on balance - each meal or snack should have a combination of far, carb, and protein to sustain energy and attention levels until the next snack or meal. PHE teachers introduced students to resources provided by the USDA. Their My Plate initiative seeks to educate about balanced nutrition (the Plate has replaced the Pyramid!), and the site provides a variety of resources for people at different ages.
In the Middle School, we provide a snack each day after Period 2. Our dining staff prepares varied offerings each day - some, like Goldfish and popcorn, are quite popular while others, like salami slices and celery sticks, are less popular - and students often bring their own snacks to last throughout the day. We've noticed an uptick in sugary and less nutritious (less nutritious than the USDA might recommend) snacks, a long line in the bookstore to purchase sweets and chips at the end of the day, and a significant amount of Starbucks cups. Throughout the Middle School, it is our policy that students refrain from eating in classrooms, and that students may carry a bottle of water with them to class, but other beverages are not permitted. On one level, this is to maintain our common spaces, but primarily, this is about nutrition.
As we move into the Spring, please open a conversation with your student about nutrition. Making healthful choices has a direct impact on sleep, cognitive ability, and self-regulation, but too many stimulants like caffeine and sugar can get in the way.
Studying Abroad
At Monday's Chapel, Blue Tie and Middle School alumna Mia Dobbins shared about her fall semester in Southern Africa! Her stories about her unique educational program (taking finals in the shadow of a waterfall, for instance!) through Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa demonstrated both Risk Taking, one of of 10 attributes on the IB Learner Profile, and a commitment to developing a global worldview, another key element of an IB education.March 14
On Wednesday, USG students organized a series of venues for students in Middle and Upper Schools to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the shooting in Parkland, FL. Local news covered demonstrations and walk-outs in the regions, including Annie Wright, including The News Tribune and Tacoma Weekly. Middle Schoolers had the opportunity to participate in a demonstration in front of the school, and those students stood in a circle, holding hands, for 17 minutes of silence, followed by a few remarks from US students about student safety, and about half of MS students requested permission to participate. The remainder of the Middle School gathered in the Lounge to share a minute of silence in memory of those who died in Parkland and other tragic shootings, followed by a discussion about emergency preparedness at Annie Wright. Ms. Wagstaff, who also serves as the school's Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, walked students through the rationale for our monthly drills and answered questions about the many "what if's" that are on students' minds. It was an opportunity to affirm for students our commitment to their safety and to calm some of the fears that current events might be stoking. If you have any questions about these events, feel free to reach out to Mr. Hulseman, or if you have questions about our emergency procedures, feel free to contact Ms. Wagstaff.
Guest Speaker: George Elbaum
On Thursday, we were privileged to welcome George Elbaum, who shared stories from his extraordinary life. Born in Warsaw, Elbaum was a young child when the Nazis invaded Poland. He spoke powerfully about his earliest memories from the Warsaw ghetto, about being separated from his mother while placed with families to keep him safe, and about the experience of liberation and eventual immigration to the United States and pursuit of an MIT education and a career in aerospace! In addition to sharing photos from his life, Elbaum also read excerpts from his book, Neither Yesterdays Nor Tomorrows, and encouraged questions from students, faculty, and parents and grandparents who attended. Dr. Elbaum was not only a powerful storyteller but also a gracious guest, entertaining a variety of questions and connecting with many of our students and guests after his talk.Elbaum's talk is the third event giving students a chance to explore the history, ethics, and impact of the Holocaust - recently, a MS Chapel introduced the history of the Holocaust, and we experienced the Living Voices performance of "Through the Eyes of a Friend," which expanded on the story and legacy of Anne Frank. Please open a dialogue about these events with your students - during and after each of these events, our students have been consistently engaged, insightful, and eager to translate their understanding of these events to understanding our world today.
To learn more about Dr. Elbaum, visit his website, Neither Yesterdays Nor Tomorrows, where he not only reflects on his experiences and provides excerpts from his book - he also captures questions and his more extended responses that are asked during his visits to schools and other communities.
