July Edition 2022
Williams Educational Consultants shares five educational topics that offer wisdom, guidance, and fun for the entire family on the fourth Friday of every month! However, this month Williams Educational Consultants decided to push it to the fifth Friday!
5 Wise Words From Wendy:
1. Prepare. In preparation for school, try to get back into a routine! Begin with planning a morning schedule with a healthy breakfast (see recipe below!) and an evening schedule with no electronics.
2. Plan. You have had a chance to recharge this summer. Now it's time to set your goals for the academic school year. What do you want to accomplish this year? Which clubs do you want to join or lead? Grab yourself an old fashion planner or download a program on your Smart Phone to start scheduling and planning your goals.
3. Relax. A new year can often bring stress and anxiety. Staying Mindful is a great way to reduce stress. At the bottom of this newsletter you will find a great way to breathe through anxiety. This "Mindfulness Moment" is brought to you by Angela Cominos Koehler. I read A Year In Balance: A Spiritual Guide To Finding Your Next Right Step every morning as it helps me to focus and balance my mind and spirit.
4. Support. Parents, an excellent way for you to support your child in their new upcoming year is to attend the Back To School Events. Parent involvement can increase motivation which can help your student earn better grades, encourage better relationships, and increase regular school attendance. Not to mention, it's good to meet the teachers to support their class and understand your student's academic responsibilities and opportunities.
5. Love. A new year can often bring stress and anxiety. Remember that you are not alone in going back to school. You are returning to your academic community with all your classmates! It is essential to show your love and kindness to your community. Be a good role model, stay positive, and show heart and appreciation to your teachers, staff members, and peers.
4 Current Conversations: Here are some great topics that create some of the hottest current conversations:
1. The Common Application Launches for the Class of 2023 August 1st. Visit here.
2. Inflation is making college costs even more expensive. Check out this article.
3. Take a look at your state and FAFSA completions here.
4. What you need to know about the GPA SCALE.
3 School Snippets: Colleges often give advice on their sites:
1. Check out Ohio State's Step by Step guide to applying.
2. Learning how to enhance your application for Case Western can help you learn about important admission details.
3. Fall is around the corner which means it is time for College Fairs.
2 Private School Plugs: A section to focus on local private schools in metro Atlanta:
1. Enrollment Management just released how many times you can take the SSAT Flex Test.
2. Atlanta releases Ultimate Guide To Private Schools.
1 Recipe Randomness:
Overnight Oats:
o ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
o ½ cup milk of choice
o ¼ cup non-fat Greek yogurt
o 1 tablespoon chia seeds
o 1 tablespoon sweetener honey or maple syrup
o ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Peanut Butter & Jelly Version (Add-ins)
o 1 tablespoon strawberry jam
o 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
o ¼ cup diced strawberries
o 2 tablespoons peanuts crushed
INSTRUCTIONS
o Place all ingredients into a glass container and mix until combined.
o Cover the glass container with a lid or plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. Toppings can be added the night before or immediately before serving.
Mindfulness Moment #1: Breath
“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” - Amit Ray
One way to get to the present moment is through your breath. I begin teaching each yoga practice with breath-work. Three long slow inhales in and three long slow exhales out. Immediately, your shoulders drop, your mind quiets and your heart rate settles. Breathing deeply, while engaging the belly, activates your parasympathetic (rest/digest) nervous system. Breathing comes naturally, but to remind us to breathe properly and fully, you can use "mindfulness bells."
To do this, choose something that happens during your day—writing an essay, hearing a phone ring, doing chores, planning a campus visit, or receiving a text from a particular person—as a signal to pause and take a few deep breaths. My favorite yoga teacher once told me that no matter what you are faced with, if you can breathe in, you can breathe out. Sometimes, it's all we need to do to bring us to this moment. In the words of Eckhart Tolle, "One conscious breath in and out is meditation."
How will YOU make time to focus on your breath this month?
Do you want more mindfulness and wellness in your life? Contact Angie for a Well-being coaching session or yoga and/ or meditation session. To purchase her book, please click here.