Providing a safe, thriving environment for students to learn and staff to work in is the foremost goal of any school setting. But, creating a safe environment that facilitates learning can be a challenging task. School administrators and emergency managers must work together to create a healthy school climate, effective intervention, and crisis plans that prepare staff and students for emergencies. Unfortunately, many schools focus so much on the physical prevention process such as upgrading equipment, creating task forces, and establishing hotlines and phone trees, that they forget that they must also take mental health into consideration. That means social stigma and bullying-related prevention.  

Social distancing means that you should not, at any time, be closer than 6 feet to any person who is not from your household. Currently, social distancing is crucial and something that everyone should be practicing to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. However, we must understand the difference between physical distancing and social distancing, and realize there are still ways to socially interact while maintaining physical distance. In a time of physical isolation, it is more important than ever to stay in touch with your loved ones!

For most of us, it seems like it has been ages since we have left our house and interacted with people outside of our family. It certainly has been nice to slow down a bit and to spend more time at home! And, how amazing are the teachers and staff to implement eLearning for their students in what seems like overnight? However, the COVID-19 quarantine is starting to wear on parents who are trying to work, homeschool, and entertain their kids… all at the same time!

Students of all ages are living in a virtual world. Technology can be beneficial when used correctly and consumed in moderation. However, children have a difficult time getting away from technology. Technology is everywhere and is easily accessible, which is why managing a child’s screen time is so important. Studies show that too much screen time can cause children to become less active, less creative, and to communicate less.

It is important for children to start learning about obligations, accountability, and consequences from a young age. These essential life skills can make for a better world in the future and teachers play a crucial role in teaching them to their students. They will aid kids in becoming better students and constructive members of society.

Virtual care is an umbrella term that encompasses how healthcare providers can remotely interact with their patients. Telemedicine, a specific method of virtual care that is becoming increasingly popular in schools across the US, refers specifically to the treatment of medical conditions without seeing a patient in person. A health professional utilizing this method can take advantage of live video and audio conferences, or even instant messaging to diagnose and address their patient’s condition.

Whether they are a kindergartner or a senior in high school, community service is a great way for students to get involved in their community. Volunteering can range from working a few hours in a local garden to spending a week building homes in the community. There are multiple reasons that community service is beneficial to students.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when blood glucose or sugar is too high. While the underlying cause of Diabetes varies by type, both lead to excess sugar in your blood. The two most common forms of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas produces little to no insulin in the body. Type 2, affects the way the body processes blood sugar. While up until recently, the most common form of diabetes in children was Type 1, Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly more common. The main factors attributed to this shift are obesity, family history, as well as children becoming less and less active. Diabetes symptoms vary from person to person, but some of the main signs to look out for are: