Volume 1, Issue 10 | September 2021
HeartMind e-News: Teach, Learn, Lead
A monthly publication dedicated to trauma-informed, compassionate school practices that help educators, students, and families move toward a sense of wholeness and well-being
Has your school used S-CCATE?
CEI's School Compassionate Culture Analytical Tool for Educators (S-CCATE) can help you, and now is a great time to start.

We all are continuing to experience an unprecedented amount of stress and trauma as the cumulative stress of the past 18 months is exacerbated by recent spikes in COVID-19 illnesses and death and concerns over unvaccinated children. Even as schools are preparing to re-open and as many are celebrating the freedom and joy from the safety of vaccination for adults, so much uncertainty remains. What can you do to alleviate the stress and trauma that you, and your students, are experiencing? Read about suggestions from Dr. Kelly McGonigal and Dr. Mason as she reflects on stress and vitality.

Recent research on the neurobiology of stress and trauma also suggests that increasing compassion in school cultures can enhance self-care, well-being, learning, and resiliency. What better time to begin measuring and improving your school's compassionate culture than now, as the school year kicks off?
 
S-CCATE — the School Compassionate Culture Analytical Tool for Educators, created by CEI, can help you do just that. This month's featured article provides a deeper dive into S-CCATE and how you and your school can start using it.
Featured Articles
Our HeartMind e-News connects the relationship of heart centered learning and mindfulness to current research and circumstances. Our goal is to provide our readers with concrete opportunities to further implementation of heart centered practices in their schools and districts. These opportunities will include suggestions for reflection, journaling, dialoguing, and compassionate classroom activities. These exercises often start with adults, working on our own knowledge and skills, before we turn to students.
Stress, Vitality, and Our Thoughts
Christine Mason
Dr. Mason shares a personal reflection on stress, as well as vitality, and a surprising realization she had that has changed the way she approaches thinking and living.
S-CCATE: A Great Way to Begin Your School Year
Caroline Geithner and Nicole Larsen, CEI Interns
S-CCATE is an assessment, measurement, and learning tool that helps school leaders measure five transformational factors in their school. With it you can gauge your school's current status in its culture, learn tips to improve, and track your progress at three time points throughout the year.
Upcoming Events and Announcements
SEPTEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month

Dr. Martha Staeheli and Dr. Christine Mason are co-authoring a series of online courses on teen suicide prevention.

These free courses provide school administration and staff with the tools to identify the signs of students who are at risk of suicidal ideation, suicidal gestures, or completed suicide, and offer action steps to prevent and address these serious concerns.

The first course is now available at Michigan Virtual. Access it here.
Visioning Support for Schools
 
If your school or district would like support with visioning, CEI is now offering technical assistance through three, 90-minute visioning sessions where we lead your team through visioning exercises. Visioning can be school or district-wide or it could be conducted as a pilot activity with a Core Learning Team.

To apply, contact Dr. Mason at chrismason@edimprovement.org or through the link below.
Turn vision into reality, possibilities into plans, and create an environment that strengthens engagement, provides safe and nurturing learning opportunities, and produces students with the skills, knowledge, and disposition to be successful in life.




Learn more about Dr. Mason’s recent and upcoming books and availability on her website www.christine-mason.com
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